Lateral Flow Device Testing Launches in Northamptonshire
The aim of testing people who do not have COVID-19 symptoms is to identify those who may be infectious without being aware, in order to reduce spread of the virus. This rapid testing enables swift action to be taken to protect colleagues and family members of those who test positive with COVID-19 and to reduce any onward risk of transmission.
The new community testing sites are at Lodge Park Sports Centre in Corby and the University of Northampton. The test involves a swab of the mouth and nose and provides a result within 30 minutes.
Testing slots must be booked online in advance and priority is given to workers in the following sectors:
- Health or social care
- Transportation
- Education or childcare (if not receiving regular rapid tests via the workplace)
- Essential shop, supermarkets or financial services
- Food production or processing
- Warehousing, packing or distribution
- Essential public sector services including waste, bin collections, security etc
- Construction, utilities or communications
- Agency workers
It is advisable for those people working in these sectors to take up the opportunity to get tested on a weekly basis to help to reduce the spread of the virus.
“We are delighted to be able to launch our new Community Lateral Flow Device testing sites for people without symptoms in the county this week, it gives us another tool with which we can fight this virus.
“Asymptomatic testing (testing people without symptoms) enables us to find the ‘one in three’ people who may carry the virus with no symptoms, who may otherwise spread the virus to family members and colleagues, which could inevitably lead to hospital admissions or even deaths.
“More of these sites will start to appear over coming weeks, and some larger workforces will also be launching their own LFD programmes.”
“A negative test result is not an absolute guarantee that you do not have COVID-19 and therefore you must still carry out thorough and regular hand washing, maintain 2 metre social distancing from all those you do not live with and wear face coverings where required to do so.”
Dr Rhosyn Harris, Consultant in Public Health at Northamptonshire County Council
For more information on Lateral Flow device testing and guidance on how to book a testing slot, please click here.
If you do have COVID-19 symptoms, please do not use these sites, please call 119 or visit www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
