As health experts become concerned about the increasing number of the VOC-21APR-02 COVID-19 cases (the variant first identified in Indian) nationally, Bradford Council continues to work hard – in partnership with NHS Test and Trace and Public Health England to detect and isolate cases of the variant.
Extras steps will begin this week to prevent the spread within the district. A number of other areas in the country have also volunteered, like Bradford, to take part in enhanced testing as a positive move to reduce the spread of the variant.
To help stop this new variant from spreading additional testing will begin in areas of the district, along with enhanced contact tracing.
Residents will be able to attend local walk-in mobile testing units which will be deployed where you will not need to book an appointment. Staff from the Council will be door knocking, handing out PCR testing kits, which are highly accurate, to encourage people to get tested even if they do not have any symptoms.
The door to door team will be easily recognisable with a purple “People Can” jacket and carrying Bradford Council identification. The teams will, with consent, either provide residents with a test to administer in the privacy of their own home or will administer it for them. Residents will also be given the opportunity to defer testing to the next day, if more convenient.
Bradford Council Leader, Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, said:
“We’ve all heard the news about this new variant which is spreading rapidly throughout the country. We know we have cases in the Bradford district and inevitably these will increase. I am asking everyone, across all our communities to protect themselves and their families by getting tested. When you’re offered the vaccination please take it up as soon as you can to help reduce the spread of the virus. We all need to follow the guidelines and protect our local community.
“While additional testing in underway, everyone is being asked to be extra vigilant for any COVID 19 symptoms. As with any variant of COVID-19, the guidance remains the same and we must all continue to regularly wash your hands, use face coverings when appropriate, keeping your distance from others when outside your house, and ventilate rooms with fresh air.”
If you or anyone in your household develops a high temperature, a new continuous cough and a loss or change to their sense of smell/ taste you should access a COVID-19 test as soon as possible, even if you have recently had a negative test result through this surge testing initiative.
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