Details of a new community testing offer have been set out today
by the Government to help local areas detect asymptomatic cases,
suppress the virus and offer a route out of the toughest
restrictions.
Local authorities in tier 3 areas, the highest level of
restrictions, can apply for the new six-week community testing
programme to complement wider local strategies to tackle the
virus.
The Government will work with local authorities to identify how
community testing might be used to help areas in tier 3 move down
to a lower tier, whilst continuing to protect the people in those
communities and the NHS.
Local authorities will determine the best way to focus testing,
suppress the virus and ensure their communities benefit, with
potential models including whole population testing of all
non-symptomatic individuals over 11 years old, testing targeted
on specific geographic areas, such as those with high prevalence,
or highly targeted testing on specific locations, employment
sectors, or workplaces where there is a high risk.
Local Directors of Public Health will be supported to develop
approaches that work for their community, backed by national
support and funding. Central government will provide operational
support for the design and delivery of community testing
programmes, and funding available to local authorities will be
estimated based on the number of tests they aim to deliver over
the 6 week programme.
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
“By expanding our testing to include people showing no symptoms,
we are finding more positive cases more quickly and breaking
chains of transmission. Up to a third of people have coronavirus
without symptoms, so it is incredibly important to be testing
those who could be infecting others unknowingly.
"When more people come forward for regular community testing, we
have a much greater chance of driving down prevalence of the
virus and saving lives.
“I know people in the top tiers are facing a particularly
difficult time, which is why we are supporting them with mass
community testing to provide a route towards lowering the level
of restrictions they face.
“We are committed to working with local areas to make this work
for their communities and I encourage all those living in areas
where community testing is offered to come forward and get
tested.”
The Government will also work in partnership with local
authorities to develop initiatives to encourage participation,
based on their knowledge of local populations and areas. Examples
might include discount schemes with local businesses,
partnerships with community organisations or local employers, or
door knocking campaigns.
If successful, the community testing programme will be expanded
into next year. Applications will be assessed on a number of
factors including local infection rates, robust plans for
community testing resources and other logistical and commercial
considerations to ensure testing delivers the best possible value
for money.
Proposals will be carefully assessed at both a local and national
level and signed off by the Chief Medical Officer to ensure they
are appropriate and safe and learning can be shared across the
country.
This builds on the community testing pilots which are taking
place in Liverpool and Merthyr Tydfil. Since the Liverpool pilot
began, more than 200,000 people have been tested as part of a
strategy that has helped to significantly reduce prevalence.
Community testing will make use of rapid Lateral Flow Tests which
give results within an hour, and will focus on locating and
suppressing asymptomatic transmission. The more cases identified
and self-isolating, the quicker the control of virus transmission
which is essential to help areas move down a tier.
With up to a third of individuals with coronavirus showing no
symptoms, increased community testing will help identify those
who are infected and infectious, but asymptomatic and unaware
that they might be spreading the disease, so that they can
isolate and protect others.
Anyone who tests positive, using either a Lateral Flow Test or an
existing swab test, must self-isolate along with their household
immediately and their contacts will be traced.
Eligible local authorities are invited to work with local liaison
teams to develop plans and submit a proposal detailing their
ambitions for community testing as soon as possible to roll out
from now and into 2021.
The devolved administrations will be supported to roll out
similar exercises with a pilot already ongoing in Merthyr Tydfil,
Wales, and they will also receive their population share of
testing capacity, including lateral flow testing.
The NHS COVID-19 app remains a key tool to help break chains of
transmission. Inputting positive PCR test results into the app
increases the number of people contact traced and the speed
contact tracing happens, which helps reduce the spread of
coronavirus and supports the reduction in the R number.
Notes to editors
