Cannock Chase will start proactively testing asymptomatic people for signs of Coronavirus to help stop the virus transmitting and reduce cases across the region.
The Conservative government has announced that Cannock Chase will this month benefit from the latest expansion of asymptomatic testing as part of its Covid Winter Plan.
Cannock Chase will be allocated tests from more than 1.6 million rapid-turnaround lateral tests being deployed in areas currently in Tier 3 across England.
Over 100 local authorities are currently engaged with the programme, which run for a minimum of 6 weeks, with more Tier 3 rollouts due to begin over the coming weeks and into the new year.
Community testing builds on the 1.5 million rapid-turnaround testing kits that have been delivered to 90 local authorities across all levels of tier restrictions, expanding the capacity for asymptomatic testing.
Proactively testing asymptomatic individuals will help identify those who unknowingly have the virus, breaking the chains of transmission in communities where infections are highest and offer a route out for those areas living under the toughest restrictions as we work to keep the virus under control.
Commenting, Amanda Milling MP, said: “I’m delighted Cannock Chase will benefit from this expansion of community testing. I would encourage people across Cannock Chase to get tested, if we all work together we can keep each other safe, lower infection rates and ease ourselves out of Tier 3. While we continue to make fantastic progress on the rollout of a vaccine, we cannot afford to become complacent about the threat of coronavirus, which continues to remain a real danger within our communities.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I am really pleased to announce the first areas embarking on enhanced community testing programmes - after 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 infectious, but unaware that they might be spreading the disease. “Community testing will be very important in helping the areas where levels of the virus are highest to drive down infection rates and ultimately will help areas ease tougher restrictions. “This is just the start, and we are working quickly to roll out community testing more widely as soon as more local teams are ready. I urge all those living in areas where community testing is offered to come forward and get tested.”
