Pilot scheme to test asymptomatic key workers in Dudley to begin
A Government-backed pilot scheme to test frontline workers who don't have symptoms of Covid-19 will begin in Dudley this week.
The pilot is being delivered in a partnership by Dudley Council and NHS Test and Trace.
It will launch on Wednesday at Saltwells Education Centre. It will start with testing key frontline council workers and care staff across the borough who have no symptoms of coronavirus.
Appointments will be available by referral only from Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm.
People without symptoms will be given free and fast turnaround lateral flow test kits to help identify if they are asymptomatic and risk accidentally spreading the virus to others. This will help break the chain of transmission and reduce the spread of the virus.
Further targeted testing in the community will be undertaken as the pilot rolls out.
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Councillor Nicolas Barlow, Dudley Council's cabinet member for health and adult social care, said: "I am really pleased we are now at the point where we can introduce this in the borough.
"Unfortunately, just because people are symptom free doesn't mean they are necessarily Covid free. This testing will help prevent people from unwittingly spreading the virus as they simply don't realise they're infected.
"We are initially starting with testing care staff and other essential key workers. In addition, it is our plan look at our cases in the borough and, where we know there is an issue or an outbreak, we will ask asymptomatic people to take the test."
Latest data shows there were 318.1 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Dudley over the seven days to November 26. That means some 1,023 people in the borough tested positive for the virus in that seven-day period – although the true number of new cases will likely be considerably higher.
Lord Bethell, Health Minister, said: "I am delighted that Dudley Council is working with us to pilot the latest technology, and I look forward to seeing the fruits of their labour, both in helping target the virus locally, and helping find ways to roll this technology out further."
Baroness Dido Harding, interim executive chair of the National Institute for Health Protection, added: "NHS Test and Trace continues to play a leading role in the fight against Covid-19 with more than 32 million tests processed so far.
"The work of Dudley Council will be essential in helping us explore the benefits of new technology.
"This pilot is one of many which will lay the foundations for the next phase of NHS Test and Trace – mass testing – which will allow us to test even more people, even more quickly."
Dudley’s other test sites across the borough continue to operate for people with symptoms of Covid-19 – a new, continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss or change to their sense of smell.
To book a test at one of our four testing sites in the borough visit nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119.
