Covid-19: Nottinghamshire to get mass testing

Last month Nottingham recorded the highest seven-day infection rate in the UK but the rate has since dropped

Mass testing for coronavirus is to be rolled out in Nottinghamshire using new testing kits that can deliver results within an hour.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the county and city of Nottingham were among 67 areas that would each receive 10,000 lateral flow tests this week.

It follows a mass testing programme in Liverpool that has seen more than 23,000 people tested since Friday.

Mr Hancock said the new tests would help detect asymptomatic cases.

"Last week we rolled out mass testing in Liverpool using new, rapid technology so we can detect this virus quicker than ever before, even in people who don't have symptoms," he said.

"Mass testing is a vital tool to help us control this virus and get life more normal.

"I am delighted to say 10,000 of these tests will now be sent out by NHS Test and Trace to over 50 directors of public health as part of our asymptomatic testing strategy."

Who's getting the tests?

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has now confirmed the areas which will be getting a share of the initial 600,000 batch.

Along with Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, they will also be sent to a number of towns and cities, including:

• Bristol

• Manchester

• County Durham

• Essex

• Newcastle

• Birmingham

• Large parts of London

A full list can be found on the government website.

The DHSC said it would be up to individual directors of public health to decide how testing was organised.

Areas were prioritised based on how prevalent coronavirus is locally and "expressions of interest" to the DHSC.

People queued to be tested when the programme started in Liverpool on Friday

Nottinghamshire County Council's director of public health Jonathan Gribbin said he was "cautious" about mass testing of asymptomatic people.

"If we think of some of the pressures in the care system, people having to isolate because of a positive test, we need to be careful we do not exacerbate that [with false positives]," he told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"I think it will have a role in the future but let's just take it a step at a time."

After the announcement, he said it was "too early" to say how the tests would be deployed but he "welcomes any measures that strengthen our test and trace capabilities".

Alison Challenger, public health director for Nottingham City Council, said they were waiting on more information but would "work with partners in the city to understand how we could use this to benefit our communities".

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Ruth Edwards, Conservative MP for Rushcliffe, said mass testing "will play a crucial role in tackling coronavirus".

"Widespread testing of people who are asymptomatic will allow us to control the rate of transmission, identify people who must self-isolate and stop the spread," she added.

Alex Norris, Labour MP for Nottingham North, also welcomed the testing.

But he added: "The testing system has never really worked so far because nationally they have been unable to trace contacts effectively. We must have the resources to trace close contacts of those who have the virus."