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The first wave of Level 3 areas in England to receive government community testing has been announced.
As of Monday, a total of 67 local authorities can begin to improve testing support programs to reduce COVID-19 transmission rates.
When combined with existing measures, the government expects the trial initiative to lead to a loosening of restrictions in Level 3 areas.
More than 100 local authorities are participating in the community testing program, which will be rolled out in more areas during the new year.
More than 1.6 million lateral flow tests, using technology similar to a pregnancy test and have a response time of less than an hour, will be delivered immediately for use with many more to follow.
Liverpool was the first part of the country to carry out massive tests for everyone in November, including those without COVID-19 symptoms.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I am very pleased to announce the first areas to embark on enhanced community testing programs, following the successful work in Liverpool.
“With one in three people with coronavirus showing no symptoms, increased community testing is a vital additional tool at our disposal to help identify those who are infected and infected, but who do not know they may be spreading the disease. .
Liverpool was the first part of the UK to implement massive tests
“Community testing will be very important in helping areas where virus levels are highest reduce infection rates and will ultimately help areas ease more stringent restrictions.”
He added that the implementation of the tests is “just the beginning” as the government is working quickly to implement the community tests in more areas.
The government said it would support community testing programs for a minimum of six weeks, and that more Tier 3 local authorities will join the program in the coming weeks.
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How Reliable Are Mass Tests?
Local authorities have created community test plans, taking into account detailed prevalence and demographic data from their local communities.
Leeds City Council Public Health Director Victoria Eaton said: “We will continue to scale up testing in Leeds as part of our overall approach to keep infections as low as possible during the winter months.
“In addition to all of our citywide community testing sites for people with symptoms, we already have large-scale testing programs for students, as well as in the NHS and nursing homes. We will continue to extend testing to more. key workers in the weeks ahead and into the New Year. “
A sign shows where to turn to enter a COVID-19 testing center in Oldham, Greater Manchester
Oldham will begin to increase access to rapid tests, and the initial plan will focus on the communities most affected by the virus.
Meanwhile, Lancashire plans to start testing with large manufacturing sites and companies with a workforce greater than 200, as well as more vulnerable groups.
And Kirklees plans to conduct testing throughout the county community starting in areas with persistently high infection rates and targeting high-risk workplaces.
Level 3 areas that can start community testing:
- Amber valley
- Handbag
- Sofa
- Derbyshire Dales
- North East Derbyshire
- South derbyshire
- Darlington
- Stockton on Tees
- Ashford
- Canterbury
- Dartford
- Dover
- Folkestone and Hythe
- Gravesham
- Maidstone
- Seven oaks
- Quagmire
- Thanet
- Tonbridge and Malling
- Tunbridge wells
- Medway
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Blackpool
- Burnley
- Chorley
- Fill in
- Hyndburn
- Lancaster
- Pendle
- Preston
- Ribble Valley
- Rossendale
- South Ribble
- West Lancashire
- Wyre
- Bolton
- Bury
- Manchester
- Oldham
- Rochdale
- Salford
- Stockport
- Tameside
- Trafford
- Wigan
- Barnsley
- Bradford
- Kirklees
- Birmingham
- Dudley
- Sandwell
- Cannock Chase
- East Staffordshire
- Lichfield
- Newcastle-under-Lyme
- South Staffordshire
- Stafford
- Staffordshire Moorlands
- Tamworth
- Stoke on trent
- North Warwickshire
- Nuneaton and Bedworth
- Rugby
- Stratford-upon-Avon
- Warwick
- Wolverhampton
- Solihull
