Covid-19 testing may be ramped up in Cov

A NEW walk-in Covid testing centre could arrive in Coventry next week as public health officials ramp up testing in the city.

Top health boss Liz Gaulton said the city has seen a “slight rise” in cases as a result of lockdown easing and is now exploring a walk-in testing site.

A drive-thru site opened at Moat Street Car Park on Monday, August 3, which complements the regional testing site at the Ricoh Arena.

Speaking at a ‘test and trace subgroup’ Ms Gaulton - who is the city’s director of Public Health - said: “It is really important that we do the social distancing, the washing the hands, and face coverings, but testing is key to understanding the spread of the virus and preventing the spread of the virus.

“We have the Ricoh Arena which is well utilised but I would like more people to be tested.

“Over the next week I’m also looking at putting in a walk-in facility. There’s pros and cons of this approach as clearly people who are symptomatic really should be at home or in their own vehicles and walking is counter intuitive, but we have to balance that against the fact we have a population of people in some areas of the city with relatively low car ownership.”

The Moat Street Car Park facility will be in place for two weeks but Ms

Gaulton said it could be extended for longer if it is well-used, or it could move to other areas of the city.

Coventry has had 1,445 lab-confirmed cases of Covid with a dip in cases at the end of June/early July, however they have now risen in recent days with 59 cases between July 25 and August 2.

Ms Gaulton said the north-east of Coventry was seeing “slightly higher rates than elsewhere across the city, but it’s very small numbers”.

She added: “What we’re seeing in Coventry is similar to what we are seeing across the country in terms of a slight rise of cases.

“We had a period where we had no hospital admissions for Covid at UHCW but over the last 7-10 days we have now seen a couple of cases back at UHCW.

“It’s fair to say after a month or so of very low numbers in the city we are starting to see an increase which I’m sure is to do with easing of lockdown, people socialising more, going to more places etc, some of which is inevitable, but it’s a very important time for us.”

Since figures began to be recorded in January, there have been a total of 284 recorded Covid deaths in Coventry. Of these, 76 people died in care homes and 182 died in hospital.

Others died at home, in hospices or other establishments. No Covidrelated deaths have been recorded in Coventry for the past three weeks.