Operation Eagle finishes in Birmingham after 12,500 tests
Birmingham’s Operation Eagle wrapped up this week after more than 12,500 were tested following the recording of the South African variant in the city.
The city is set to hear in nine days time whether any further cases of the highly infectious variant have been found.
The operation – which is being put in place in locations around the country where the strain has been found – was launched in Frankley Great Park and south Northfield after two residents were found to have been infected with the variant.
There was a drive to test 10,000 people in the affected area within a week – and the West Midlands Covid briefing today heard this figure had been exceeded.
It followed a similar operation in Walsall after the variant was found there.
Tests were carried out through a range of measures including mobile testing units and door-to-door testing.
Birmingham City Council leader Councillor Ian Ward told the meeting the operation ended on Wednesday.
Councillor Ward said: “While the figures are still being finalised, we estimate that over 12,500 tests have been carried out.
“This was through a combination of mobile testing units, door-to-door, drop-and-collect to schools and businesses and a community collection hub.
“I want to thank everyone involved in standing up such a comprehensive scheme of testing and of course the thousands of people who understood the importance of taking a test.
“The case rate in Frankley Great Park is currently the highest in the city and the testing rate is also the highest – roughly ten times that in many other areas. The case rate therefore reflects this rather than any additional concern.
“We expect to hear about any cases of the South African variant found through this testing in about nine days time.
“The council is now developing a rapid response function building on the learning from Operation Eagle should this be required again in the future.”
Councillor Simon Morrall, who represents the Frankley Great Park ward, said: “No one party can take all the credit for this – not me, not the Government, the council – other than the people of Frankley themselves for stepping up, and doing their duty.
“This has set a benchmark for how testing should be carried out in other parts of the city and I cannot tell you how immensely proud I am of everyone for the way they have responded – I want to say a huge thank you and congratulations to Frankley residents for stepping up to the plate.”
The meeting heard the latest infection rate in Birmingham was 211 cases of coronavirus per 100,000 people i, down from 290 last week.
The highest rate in the West Midlands was in Sandwell at 281.6, followed by Walsall (251.5) and Wolverhampton (221).
The lowest rates were in Coventry (163.7), Solihull (182.6) and Dudley (191.9).
