Over 2,000 tests have now been carried out at the COVID-19 test centre in Newport since it opened last month, but the number of confirmed cases on the Isle of Wight sits at just 178 overall.
Since the pandemic began, 178 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus have been recorded on the Isle of Wight through hospital testing, testing carried out at 1Leisure Medina and through home test kits arranged via the NHS app. This means the large majority of people taking a test on the Island are seeing a negative result.
COVID-19 tests are now available to anyone aged 5 or over who has coronavirus symptoms. Symptoms to look out for include a new continuous cough or high temperature or loss/change in normal sense of smell or taste. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should self-isolate and arrange to be tested using the downloaded COVID-19 app or at the Isle of Wight satellite testing facility.
Island residents who record their symptoms via the app will be connected to a call centre where they can order a swab test, which will be sent directly to them and collected the following day. Anyone they have been in close contact with, who also has the app, will be alerted anonymously via a ‘ping’ and given guidance on what to do next.
For those who cannot use the app to report symptoms, such as other family members of the symptomatic individual or anyone who does not have a smart phone, the drive-through satellite coronavirus testing facility at 1Leisure Medina in Newport is available and is now operated by Isle of Wight NHS Trust.
This centre has provided over 2,000 tests since it first opened last month – appointments are available Monday to Saturday between 09:00-14:30 and can be booked by telephone. On arrival a self-test kit is provided which involves taking a swab from the throat and the nose to identify if coronavirus is present. This means those who test negative for coronavirus can return to work as soon as possible, and those who test positive are able to isolate whilst they recover.
Sara Weech, Project Lead for the testing centre, said:
“I have been really impressed with how well the team has come together very quickly and at short notice to provide a much needed testing service for the Island. We know the test can cause anxiety but we hope we have been able to reassure families when they are here and to talk them through the process. The COVID-19 PCR tests whether a person has the coronavirus; it is not an antibody test to identify if they have had, or are immune to, the virus. Ideally you need to have the test in the first five days of having symptoms and if using the testing centre, you should book to take a test as soon as possible. Completed tests leave the Island the same day and results should be available within five days.”
Article continues below this advertisement
Simon Bryant, Director of Public Health for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Councils said:
“By making it easy for those with symptoms to get tested, including children over 5 years old, and with the digital contact tracing provided by the NHS COVID-19 app, we can continue to reduce transmission of the virus across the Island. Not only can we alert residents who may have been exposed so they can take action to protect themselves and others, this enhanced testing means younger family members can now be tested too. If uptake and use of testing and the app is widespread it will give us the greatest success to begin to enable the return to normality.”
Alison Smith, Managing Director for NHS Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group, said:
“It’s welcome news that more people, who are showing symptoms, can now be tested for Covid-19 on the island. The fact we have our own testing facility is great because it reduces the need to travel to the mainland for a test. And of course we are the first area in the country to be using the NHS Covid-19 App – that’s another way for you to obtain a test. If you think you may have the virus then notify the app, and after that you will be connected to a call centre to order a swab test that will be sent directly to you.”
I know of several people who waited 13 days for results only to be told unclear. One lady rang back and was told no point in being retested you and and everyone in your household can now go out!
what? surely not! unclear result means just that it does not mean negative definetely .Test may not have been collected properly and if person has symptoms OR has been in contact with someone who does then they need to self isolate !
I agree with you. This is all a bit of a mess. She still has symptoms but has been out.
FAKE VIRUS!!!
Well said Mary, but the dummies won’t understand!
Of course Mr Justice and Mary! They just made up the 35000 deaths! Mr Justice still spouting your conspiracy theories I see. What this time a fake virus so we’re all controlled like the citizens of China? Tell that to the relatives of those that have died in the most horrible and lonely manner….I’ll await your smart ass big worded comeback …that I’ll ignore and so should everyone else…saddo
And all over the world, the economy is going downhill just for fun . . .
You lack intelligence mark.because everything I have said is fact,not a conspiracy as you like to portray. An intelligent person would research before engaging brain then keyboard. Just dumb.
Covid 19 is overrated wake up you dummies! This is not an a extinction level event virus!Yes is not good but nor is the flu,Ebola ETc
People die every day,we all die at the end of the day,who cares,we’re all expendable at the end of the day,Time is a predator who catches us all at the end of the day.
We’re all going too die!!! It’s the end of the world.Doomed all doomed!!!