Council hopes new testing vans will catch COVID 'silent spreaders'
Staffordshire County Council say they hope the fleet of mobile testing vans will bolster efforts to catch asymptomatic cases.
Last updated 19th Jan 2021
The “Let’s Get Tested” vans are being rolled out this week in a bid to reach the county's most rural communities.
The mobile rapid-testing vans will provide pop-up community testing and support the new Community Testing Centres as they start to open their doors.
Many Staffordshire employers are also joining the mass-testing blitz, with Alton Towers one of the first to sign up to offer both community and workforce testing.
The council are continuing to ask all residents who need to be out and about during the lockdown to have regular Covid-19 tests, even if they don’t have symptoms, They are also asking anybody in a hotspot area to get a test.
The move aims to tackle the “silent spreaders”, people who carry the virus but have no symptoms. The county council aims to test thousands of asymptomatic people every day by February.
The latest average seven-day Covid rate in Staffordshire is currently 424 per 100,000 population, lower than the West Midlands rate of 566 and the England rate of 530
Dr Johnny McMahon, Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said: “During this national lockdown, people must not leave or be outside their home except where necessary. This is the law."
“Some people may need to leave home for example to shop for basic necessities, or to go to work, if they cannot work from home. If people do need to leave their homes then testing across the county is available to check whether they have the virus before they have contact with others."
“The county council and partners have worked hard to ensure there is lots of availability for residents to get a rapid test."
“The message should now be crystal clear – if you need to have contact with others get tested regularly. If you live in a hotspot location book that tests today.”
People can book a test at Welcome to the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Community Test Sites Appointment System (zipporah.co.uk) People with symptoms or who have been asked to self-isolate should not attend.
Results from the rapid lateral flow tests are available in about 30 minutes.
Hotspots
Cannock Chase – Brereton and Ravenhill, Cannock East, Cannock North, Cannock South, Hagley, Heath Hayes East and Wimblebury, Hednesford Green Heath, Hednesford North, Hednesford South
East Staffordshire – Anglesey, Branston, Brizlincote, Burton, Eton Park, Horninglow, Shobnall, Stapenhill, Stretton
Lichfield – Alrewas & Fradley, Chasetown, Curborough, Fazeley, Shenstone, Summerfield & All Saints
Newcastle-under-Lyme – None
South Staffordshire – Bilbrook, Brewood and Coven, Cheslyn Hay South, Essington, Great Wyrley Town, Huntington and Hatherton, Perton Lakeside, Trysull and Seisdon, Wombourne North and Lower Penn, Wombourne South East, Wombourne South West
Staffordshire Moorlands – None
Stafford - Doxey & Castletown, Forebridge, Holmcroft, Penkside
Tamworth - Amington