Tests which pick up COVID-19 cases without the person showing symptoms will be coming to the Isle of Wight.
The lateral flow antigen tests can be used for asymptomatic testing, which can better pick up people with COVID-19 and stem the spread of the virus.
They will also allow for increased testing of priority and high-risk groups.
Announced in November by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), local directors of public health could request the lateral flow tests after the initial scheme proved useful in trial areas, like Liverpool.
The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed it will now receive the tests and has said it is delighted to support the national initiative.
A council spokesperson said:
“We are currently identifying those settings that would benefit from being tested in this way to maximise use. We look forward to receiving the devices and are liaising with the Department of Health and Social Care.”
According to DHSC, lateral flow testing is “crucial to break the chains of transmission of the virus and to support critical industries, key workers and institutions. With lower rates of transmission, those at highest risk from the virus will be more protected and residents will feel more confident in getting back to their day-to-day lives.”
Last month, the Island’s public health director, Simon Bryant said it would be another tool in the council’s COVID-testing toolbox. He said:
“We are in a low prevalence area, which is good. We want to ensure we have the right tests for the right population, if that is suitable for the Island.”
Let’s hope this helps save lives and prevents others catching this over Christmas time. Worrying amount of main land vehicles in Bembridge now.
It is no longer a pandemic…it is endemic at worst !! We don`t need testing any more than we need an experimental untested vaccine.
“It is unknown whether COVID – 19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 has an impact on fertility.” This is direct, in writing from Pfizer. How can a Govt be allowed to get away with rolling this out?
You should have watched the program on TV showing people with the virus in Hospital and if you can say afterwards that the virus is Flu or even worse Fake News then you should be disgusted with your attitude.
Narcolepsy is a brain disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and often an array of other symptoms from sleep paralysis to hallucinations and obesity. Six million in the UK were given the Swine Flu vaccine in 2009/2010 GlaxoSmithKline was given an indemnity.
The UK Govt’s study of 4 to 18-year-olds found that around one in every 55,000 jabs led to narcolepsy. A lot of people were harmed. So no… I am not disgusted at my attitude.
According to official statistics Narcolepsy affects 1 in 2500 people so one in 55000 is way below the normal average.
Even so, how much more testing would you like to see? A year? Five years? A hundred?
No amount of testing will ever eliminate all risks – it just helps us to understand and mitigate them.
If you want to stay indoors for the rest of your life and avoid vaccines then do that.
Just be very sure you know the impact of any “facts” you decide to share and remember the large number of people who are now dead or disabled because of people with good intentions spread “facts” about the MMR vaccine.
(Anyone considering countering that argument with thalidomide should bear in mind that the disaster was caused by doctors using it in a manner for which it was neither tested nor intended which led to some of the testing regulations we have today.)
For a virus that kills less than 0.06% of people that catch it, why on earth would I want an untested vaccine? Perhaps another reason it is being pushed, is the 9 trillion dollars to be made on it by big pharma.
Honestly real islander you are wasting your breath and time with these people! Let them find out the hard way. ! They watch the BBC listen to the media, and do Facebook and Twitter crap, so it’s impossible to get them to even glance at all the evidence out there. But when they lose their wealth, and controlled in every way of their lives, then they will see! The bit I’m interested in is how loud they will scream and cry when they come for their pets! No? They have already had a little test to see the reaction, as always the people will accept. It’s the children I fill sorry for, their future freedom given away:(
Covid-19: Safety of lateral flow tests questioned after they are found to miss half of cases BMJ 2020; 371 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m4744 (Published 04 December 2020)Cite this as: BMJ 2020