Covid-19: Councils prepare for rapid testing roll out
Local authorities across the region are rolling out rapid testing programmes in a bid to speed up the process of moving out of Tier 3.
Council bosses want to see a shift down to Tier 2 by the time current measures are reviewed on December 16, and see the mass testing of people without symptoms as a key element in reducing infection rates.
In recent weeks case numbers have plummeted by up to 60 per cent across the Black Country and Staffordshire, yet the region still has some of the highest infection rates in England.
Ministers have encouraged Tier 3 areas to apply for funds to run mass testing programmes.
Staffordshire County Council has launched a new testing programme targeted at people living in Covid hotspots.
The authority has an initial 20,000 lateral flow rapid testing kits and advises people living in areas of high infection to book at test online.
Council health chief Dr Johnny McMahon, said: “We are targeting testing where it is needed most and are encouraging everyone who lives in a hotspot to get tested.
“We are also looking to roll out more rapid covid tests across the county, but these are currently limited and it will take some weeks to scale up the operation.
“We’re busy recruiting people to help with these tests, which will eventually see up to 80,000 people in the county tested every single week.”
Hostspots will be regularly reviewed. The current list includes: South Staffordshire (Codsall North, Great Wyrley and Landywood); Stafford (Forebridge, Manor and Littleworth); and Lichfield (Chase Terrace).
Visit staffordshire.zipporah.co.uk/TrackAndTrace to book a test 48 hours in advance. Health bosses in Walsall are ramping up the borough’s testing regime, with a programme in the pipeline to target vulnerable people and key workers.
Public health consultant Dr Uma Viswanathan, said in a report: “Plans are being drawn up for the roll out of lateral flow testing.
“It is anticipated 10,000 tests per week will be available to begin with, increasing to 28,000 and a targeted approach will be adopted across the region focusing first on core workers and the vulnerable.”
Sandwell’s director of public health, Dr Lisa McNally, said the authority was keen to roll out mass testing “as soon as possible” and had requested support from the Government.
She said: “We watched the testing programme in Liverpool with great interest and the large scale support offered by military personnel.
“If that was available to Sandwell then we’d be keen to use it. If we do not receive similar support to Liverpool then Sandwell Council will do as much mass testing as we can within existing resources.
"However, those resources also have to cover support for our outbreak response, contact tracing, vaccination uptake and supporting vulnerable people.”
Dudley Council started a rapid testing pilot scheme for frontline workers at Saltwells Education Centre today, with appointments available by referral only.
Bosses hope the scheme will help break the chain of transmission and reduce the spread of the virus in the borough, which has the 10th highest infection rate in the country.
Councillor Nicolas Barlow, cabinet member for health and adult social care, said: “This testing will help prevent people from unwittingly spreading the virus as they simply don’t realise they’re infected.
"We are initially starting with testing care staff and other essential key workers.
"In addition, it is our plan look at our cases in the borough and, where we know there is an issue or an outbreak, we will ask asymptomatic people to take the test.”
Wolverhampton Council completed a rapid testing pilot scheme at the Sedgley Street Gurdwara on Monday, and now plans to launch mass testing in the city on Friday.
Council leader Ian Brookfield said the scheme will run from up to seven venues and will start with an initial batch of 20,000 tests.
