“Only get tested if you are showing symptoms and don’t be pressured by your employer to get a test” is the message from the Isle of Wight’s director of public health, as problems nationally have led to increased wait times for COVID-19 tests.
Speaking after government advice was given around testing, Simon Bryant, the Isle of Wight Council’s head of public health, has reinforced the announcements about only having a COVID-19 test if you are showing symptoms.
Mr Bryant has also warned against people just turning up at the drive-through testing site at Newclose Cricket Club — saying they will not be tested. He said:
“There are challenges with the lab capacity nationally which has meant people going on to the websites have not been able to book a test.
“But we are encouraging people, that do have symptoms, to keep trying to book.”
Despite some people struggling to find a test on the Island, and being offered to go to walk-through centres on the mainland, Mr Bryant strongly advised against people travelling across the Solent for a test as that could potentially spread the virus.
Those being offered testing centres on the mainland should try again until other Island-based options are available.
He said:
“If you have symptoms you need to self-isolate at that point. Please do not travel to the mainland.
“We are working really hard with our regional and national colleagues to expand lab capacity but we really need to remind people to only have a test if you have symptoms.”
Mr Bryant also confirmed that you should not get a test just because your employer asked you.
Symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- a persistent cough
- high temperature
- loss of smell of taste
Yesterday, a director of the test and trace programme in England issued a ‘heartfelt’ apology for the shortages of tests and explained it was the laboratories, not the testing sites, that were causing the hold-up.
In a tweet, Sarah-Jane Marsh, who works as deputy to Dido Harding, head of the test and trace programme, said the labs were at a ‘critical pinch-point’.
A new Lighthouse lab is supposed to open in Loughborough at the end of the month which will provide more diagnostic capacity to the testing for Covid-19.
Another example how limited Mr Johnson’s ‘world beating’ testing system is. If you wait for a test until you have clear symptoms it may well be too late. Infected people can transmit the virus even when they don’t show any symptoms. This is why it is important that all people who may have been infected are identified by testing – symptoms or not.
yep, if asymptomatic they say you are ‘infectious’ so why would they WANT to PREVENT people from being tested, some might say that it was to INCREASE the infections to justify the RNA vaccinations and the control grid. (I’m one of those)
go to the video site and search for the user Rachel Elnaugh and watch “RACHEL SPEAKS OUT ~ 9 SEPTEMBER 2020”
Conscious evolutionary entrepreneur and former Dragons’ Den ‘Dragon’ Rachel Elnaugh ~ speaking out about what she believes is currently unfolding, both in the UK and globally.
Jon Choo I watched it, she’s spot on. It won’t be long and they will remove her video as she is speaking the truth.
Please do not ring Newclose Cricket Ground as we have been inundated with calls regarding the test centre please ring 119