The Isle of Wight Council’s team of COVID support officers are out and about offering testing kits to residents and encouraging them to test themselves at least twice a week.
Visiting supermarkets and town centres, the aim is to increase the number of people taking rapid response LFT tests, despite life returning to normal and a massive uptake in COVID vaccinations, which help prevent serious illness, death and hospitalisations.
There is no legal requirement to conduct a test.
Councillor Karl Love, the Cabinet member responsible for public health, said:
“In the past six days our COVID support officers have handed out almost 3,400 test kits to residents as part of our ongoing efforts to stop the spread of the virus.
“It’s a brilliant effort taken by this small council’s team of workers who really care about their community and went the extra mile.
“As we enter the winter months, it is vital communities across the Island have access to home testing kits to help keep infection rates down. It’s also important to get a booster vaccination when you are contacted and offered it.
“Of course, testing isn’t the only way we can protect ourselves. Getting vaccinated and remembering hands, face, space, fresh air will all help protect the Island against COVID and other winter illness.”
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The COVID support officers will continue the scheme in the busy run up to Christmas, handing out more home test kits in town centres and at local events.
Josh Taylor, one of the officers, said:
“It’s been great to chat to residents and see how keen they are to play their part.”
offering test kits as unable to offer booster jabs, westridge walk in closed for a week and no appointments available at riverside. been trying online for a week, 8 to 10 times a day and varies from 10 to 4 options on the mainland but none on the island.
I couldn’t get anything either so I booked mine through my surgery, have you tried calling yours?
Nothings free…!! we the taxpayer will be paying this back for decades. Let’s keep in perspective that sadly?! 188 people have caught this virus and succumbed to it. 130,000 plus live here.
And the deaths would be much higher if we had done nothing. Lets keep perspective, 188 family will have an empty seat at the table this Christmas! Stop trying to play it down, even one avoidable death is too many. But I guess you wont care until it’s your family that is affected.
If the cause of death was this Covid nonsense then you might have a point. But keep being scared.
Everyone’s entitled to an opinion Tom.
We have two elderly who have succumbed to the virus so yes they will be sorely missed?! But, there’s a difference between the way I think and the way you do?! None of us are getting out of this place alive.
You make sure you get that booster, booster to stay save. I’ll trust my immune system.
Covid support officers? Jesus wept…
No thanks the false positives are only keeping the facade of a deadly virus going
This is not free. The ‘test kits’ and ‘COVID support officers’ are paid for with or taxes.
Sorry, typo. Should say ‘our taxes’