Rapid community testing is set to launch on the Isle of Wight next week in a bid to drive down coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission rates.
People who don’t have COVID-19 symptoms and can’t work from home will soon be able to book a free test with the opening of new community test sites in Newport, Ryde and Sandown.
Around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 have no 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, enabling people to self-isolate and prevent further spread.
Using rapid turnaround tests supplied by NHS Test and Trace, the tests are aimed at those who have to leave home to attend work, such as taxi and bus drivers, retail workers, building or maintenance workers. They are also for people who are in contact with others who are vulnerable, such as carers, and are not covered by other programmes.
Testing will be available for asymptomatic individuals where there is a higher risk of exposure or potential for mixing between household groups because people cannot work from home. However, those who take a test should note that they will need to self isolate if the test shows a positive result.
This includes:
- Local authority frontline workers not covered by other programmes.
- Early years settings not covered by national programmes (childminders, non maintained nurseries).
- Retail including supermarkets.
- Construction and maintenance.
- Some transport workers/hubs (including ferry, taxis, bus drivers).
- Volunteers, including those supporting local authorities and emergency services in supporting the welfare of local residents.
Isle of Wight Council leader, Dave Stewart, has said:
“While everyone should be staying at home as much as possible, there are some residents who have a legitimate need to be out and about because they cannot work from home.
Article continues below this advertisement “By offering free testing to these people, we will be able to quickly identify anyone who may be unknowingly passing the virus on to others.
“They can then self-isolate immediately, helping to safeguard the workforce and provide business continuity.
“It is important for businesses to keep their workplace safe by encouraging staff to attend these tests regularly. Testing is quick, simple and free and will protect lives and livelihoods on the Island.
“It is also important to stress that taking the test, even if the result is negative, does not discount the need to continue following national guidance around social distancing, wearing a face covering, and washing your hands properly and regularly. These simple steps are still vital in preventing the transmission of the virus.”
The tests being used are called lateral flow tests. They do not require a laboratory to process and usually provide results within 30 minutes. The test involves taking a swab inside the nose and throat (tonsil), using a long cotton bud. People will do the swab themselves in a booth and the booths will be cleaned after each use.
Testing will be available at the following locations with further sites due to be announced in due course:
- County Hall, High Street, Newport.
- The Heights Leisure Centre, Broadway, Sandown.
- The Learning and Development Centre, Westridge, Brading Road, Ryde.
Tests must be booked in advanced and further details will be published on Monday (15th February) on how to do this.
Simon Bryant, the council’s director of public health, said:
“This is yet another tool to help us all continue to work together to break the transmission of COVID-19.
“The new centres will make it even easier to get tested so, if you are out because you cannot work from home, then please take the opportunity to book a test.
“Please, if you own a business, encourage your staff to book twice weekly community tests and help keep the Island safe.”
The testing site for people who are symptomatic is located at Newclose County Cricket Ground, Blackwater Road, Newport.
Workplace coronavirus testing is also available to businesses with staff who cannot work from home during lockdown. Companies with 50 or more employees can register online for workplace coronavirus tests.
This is a step in the right direction, so all the people who work in the mentioned job roles should take the test on a regular basis. I just hope all this effort and good work is not wasted come half term time when families from the mainland jump on a ferry and come over to the island for a holiday. In the County Press newspaper this week, a lady wrote a letter to the Editor, which was published and she explains that she owns a holiday let and had to refuse a booking a family were trying to make for a stay over the half term holiday! She refused, which I praise her for doing so. It is against the law to travel if the journey is not essential and certainly, holidays are a No No at the moment. But, how many would NOT have refused and taken the booking and the money???? I hope the island can stay safe and the COVID numbers continue to decrease…
The half-term invasion has already started, according to online comments yesterday from an IOW resident who lives next to a ferry terminal. Apparently there’s a significant uptick in cars getting off the ferries and it’s no coincidence that half term for some schools on the mainland is 15 to 19 February. As before, there is no sign of any check and challenge. No lessons learned.
If they want to break the law, then that is their problem and not yours. The lesson is wear a mask, wash your hands and keep away then you will be ok.
If it’s any indication, the idiot with the black range rover and the dodgy darkened number plate and very loud exhaust, last heard roaring regularly past my house in the autumn is back. Yesterday at Tesco, about 17,30hrs. racing into the car park, parking in the pick up zone, then, when leaving shortly after, racing down the slip road to the roundabout.
Dont forget. There ARE a lot of businesses with fewer than 50employees on the island. And it only takes one person who is unknowingly carrying the virus to undo good works. Just a thought.
Surely that’s why this is a good thing now? People can get the test themselves rather than through their company
Yea understand what your saying, BUT will they take the test if they feel fine. If their company is taking it will it encourage all of the workforce to do it. Who knows ??
why don’t you take a test every five minutes – stop pestering the hard workers, who have been keeping this country going, whilst you have been sat at home doing nothing.
I for one won’t be taking any test or a so called ‘vaccine’.
I’m going to book my test soon as an essential worker. Do I have to go to the centre twice a week or get a supply of tests to self administer?