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Live Reporting

All times stated are UK

  1. Middlesbrough to get Covid-19 testing hub in the new year

    A Covid-19 mass testing centre is to be opened on Teesside in the new year amid fears of a spike after the Christmas break.

    The South Tees public health team is looking to use Middlesbrough Town Hall (pictured) as a testing hub to prevent local hospitals becoming overwhelmed.

    There are fears infection rates could rise after rules are relaxed, allowing up to three households to meet for Christmas.

    The government is sending lateral flow tests to areas of the country in the highest tiers, like Teesside.

    Middlesbrough Town Hall
  2. Extra Covid-19 vaccination centres to open in Newcastle

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Daniel Holland

    Several sites are being prepared to give the coronavirus vaccination in Newcastle, with three due to be opened next week.

    Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary became one of the first places in the country to start issuing the jabs this week, with 400,000 people due to be given the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at the RVI “as a priority”.

    Care home staff are expected to receive their jabs next week with those aged over 80 over the coming weeks.

    RVI main entrance

    The Pfizer vaccine is initially stored at temperatures of -70C, and after it is delivered to hubs it can be stored for up to five days in a fridge.

    Martin Wilson, chief operating officer at the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said 200 to 250 people are currently being vaccinated at the RVI each day.

    He added that bigger vaccination centres at large venues, such as sport centres or conference halls, are likely to open early in 2021 to allow for more people to be vaccinated.

  3. Covid-19 community testing to start in Redcar

    Redcar is to start community testing for coronavirus next week.

    Grangetown Community Hub will be providing lateral flow tests to asymptomatic residents for five days from Monday.

    Gloved hands and dropper

    The tests use a saliva sample and provide results within about 20 minutes.

    However a positive result then needs to be confirmed with a further test, which involves a swab to the nose and throat before the samples are sent to a laboratory.

    Redcar had been earmarked for a mass coronavirus testing pilot in October, but the plans were dropped when Redcar and Cleveland Council council leader Mary Lanigan said the government "decided to prioritise Liverpool" for the study.