Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Councils in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have said they hope to begin rapid asymptomatic testing in selected areas from later this month.

Nottinghamshire County Councli plans to start its pilot in Mansfield on 25 January and in Worksop from early February, testing people once a week over three months.

This type of testing began in Lambeth, London, earlier this month and the government said it will now roll out across England this week.

Image source, PA Media

Jonathan Gribbin, Nottinghamshire's director of public health, said the places they would target first are the Bellamy Road, Ladybrook and Oak Tree areas of Mansfield and the Manton and Sandy Lane areas of Worksop.

"We have identified these communities because they have a high proportion of working-age residents and those who are unable to work from home," he said.

"We want to make sure that they have easy access to testing and support if they need to self-isolate."

Nottingham City Council said it had selected the Forest Fields and Hyson Green areas of the city for an asymptomatic community testing facility, due to open over the next couple of weeks.

Sally Longford, the council's deputy leader, said: “We know there have been high rates of Covid-19 infections in these areas and that citizens living here are of working age and more at risk from Covid-19.

"Many individuals living in Forest Fields and Hyson Green may also find it difficult to access testing, so the chosen site is close to transport routes that serve these communities."

She added the facility would be in place until March.

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Sandish Shoker
BBC News

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) has warned people in Derbyshire to stay at home and not rush on the roads after the Met Office issued a yellow warning for ice., external

The forecaster's warning, for the north of the county, is valid from 15:00 this afternoon until 11:00 tomorrow.

EMAS tweeted, external to remind people only to travel for essential reasons and said, given the weather forecast, "don't put yourself or others at risk by rushing".

Image source, Pa Media

BBC Weather

It's a cloudy start to the day and there may be the odd spot of drizzle.

While many places will catch an occasional bright spell through the morning, patchy outbreaks of rain will move in from the north west later on.

It will be a breezy day but feeling milder than it has done recently, with highs of 9C.

Image source, Annie's patch

The latest news, sport, travel and weather for the East Midlands.

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The friends said they were relieved people would not have to fear being fined for taking a walk.

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The two women were given £200 fixed penalty notices after driving five miles to go on a walk.

BBC Weather

Today will be mostly cloudy and cold with patchy light rain, sleet and snow.

There will be a maximum temperature of 2°C (36°F).

Through this evening and tonight, it will become dry and gradually clearer. A cold night with the risk of local pockets of freezing fog by dawn.

Image source, Philippa

East Midlands Today

A Nottinghamshire coach company has been enlisted to help transport people to Covid vaccination sites.

Marshalls, based in Sutton-on-Trent, has been contracted by Nottinghamshire County Council to start taking people to a local site from next week.

Simon Read, transport manager said: "It's a privilege to be involved in anything that gets rid of this terrible situation we have got and to be able to help out is brilliant."

Mr Read said the coach travel and tourism sectors had been hit badly by the pandemic and made an emotional plea to the government for more support.

He said: "Without coaches the country comes to a standstill.

"Who is it that supports the rail industry when trains break down? It's the coach industry.

"Who moved the army up to Liverpool for mass testing? It's the coach industry."

The BBC has approached the government for a response.

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Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued by the Met Office for the whole of the East Midlands and the majority of the country.

The warning has been put in place from 17:00 today until 23:59 tomorrow.

Icy stretches are likely to form and perhaps lead to travel disruption with snow falling for some places, said the Met Office.

Image source, Philippa Jacks

BBC Weather

It looks like Thursday will be cold and dry with bright spells and some large areas of cloud.

Remaining cloudy and cold into the evening with occasional sleet and snow flurries in places, these mainly light. There will be a minimum temperature of -2°C (28°F).

Image source, terry standen

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