A PILOT of Lateral Flow testing is launching in Redditch, as part of the government’s continuing drive to increase the availability of Covid-19 tests.

The pilot, running at Redditch Town Hall, aims to help protect residents from Bromsgrove and Redditch, where the highest rates of coronavirus in the County have been seen.

Residents from the 2 districts, who do not have any symptoms, are able to book a test at the LFT site. The testing initiative is designed to help identify people who are carrying the virus without knowing. They will then be able to self-isolate and protect their families and communities.

The pilot will also provide vital information to help inform further rollout of the mass testing technology in future. It is part of the government’s plan to develop new technologies which will safely enable the country to go about life as normally as possible.

From December 28 until January 2 testing will be available to the residents of Redditch and Bromsgrove, and staff who work at either District council. Residents are eligible for an LFT test if they do not have symptoms.

Anyone who has a symptom of Covid-19 is being asked to book a test in the usual way and not use the LFT site in Redditch. From the start of the pandemic, the Government has been working around the clock with a range of partners to fight coronavirus. The pilot in Worcestershire is being delivered in partnership with Worcestershire County Council Public Health and will offer assisted and self-administered tests. Assistants are on hand to help.

Lateral Flow devices, similar to those that have been used to test a large number of people in Liverpool, and University students in Worcestershire, allow a rapid test result without being reliant on laboratory capacity.

Residents having the test will take a swab from up inside the nose. While they wait, the test can be checked and within 30 minutes they will know if they have Covid-19. Anyone getting a positive test will be asked to book a further test at one of the county’s sites.

The tests can be booked via www.worcestershire.gov.uk/RedditchTesting

Dr. Kathryn Cobain, Director for Public Health in Worcestershire said; “We have been supporting the people of both Bromsgrove and Redditch, throughout the pandemic, to keep the cases of Covid-19 down. This testing pilot, will continue that good work, ensuring residents of both districts who have no symptoms, are able to be tested quickly and then understand their risk of spreading the virus. I’d urge everyone in Redditch and Bromsgrove to take up this offer of a test. You do not need to have any symptoms, you just book a test and check to ensure you do not have Covid-19. We are delighted to be able to use this new technology, which is part of an array of support and testing on offer in the county and we welcome the benefits it brings to the residents of Worcestershire. We have already seen it used successfully in our pilot with the University of Worcester, allowing students to safely return home for Christmas. This latest pilot will help more of our residents get quick and easy access to testing and will help us identify people who have Covid-19 and did not realise.“

Redditch Borough Council Leader Matt Dormer said; “I am pleased this service is being run from our building as Redditch has, at times seen high numbers of Covid cases. I want to encourage people to take advantage of this service so we can keep our Borough, and beyond, safe and help to contain this virus.”