67 local authorities including Birmingham, Solihull, Lichfield, Sandwell, Dudley have been given approval to begin enhanced testing support programmes as soon as Monday to drive down transmission rates in their areas.
The first wave of Tier 3 areas to receive the government’s community testing offer have been confirmed today. When combined with existing measures, this will help put Tier 3 areas on a route out of the toughest restrictions.
Over 100 local authorities are engaged in the community testing programme with more rollouts due to begin in the new year.
Roughly one in three people have the virus without symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it. Broadening testing to identify those showing no symptoms will mean finding positive cases more quickly, and break chains of transmission.
With its targeted approach, community testing aims to reduce the prevalence of the virus in the highest risk areas. Based on their in-depth knowledge of their local community, local authorities have created community testing plans, taking into account detailed prevalence data and demographics.
These include:
Oldham will start increasing access to rapid testing for coronavirus. The initial plan will focus on those communities most significantly affected by the virus, higher risk supported living settings, health and social care staff, schools and colleges.
Lancashire plans to start testing with large manufacturing sites, and businesses with workforces greater than 200, as well as more vulnerable groups.
Kirklees plans to undertake whole borough community testing starting in areas of persistently high infection rates and targeting high risk workplaces.
More than 1.6 million lateral flow tests will be immediately delivered for use in December with many more to follow.
Government support will be provided to support community testing programmes for a minimum of 6 weeks, with more Tier 3 local authorities due to join the community testing offer over the coming weeks and into 2021.