The rapid result lateral flow tests will be used to target high-risk places and settings.
In a joint statement the Directors of Public Health at East Riding of Yorkshire Council,Hull City Council, North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council have said they will be deploying Lateral Flow Tests in the Humber region.
The new testing technology – which was used as part of whole-city testing in Liverpool – can provide results within an hour without needing to be processed in a lab. The idea is that they are used to proactively test people with no symptoms helping to identify those who unknowingly have the virus and enable those who test positive and their contacts to self-isolate, which can help drive down the R rate locally and save lives.
In a joint statement the Public Health Directors say..
“As part of our continuing wide-ranging strategy to suppress the spread of COVID-19 and quickly control any outbreaks, Humber area public health teams will be implementing additional testing using Lateral Flow Tests.
"This will provide an extra tool in our toolkit which enables us to target the right test at the right people, in the right place, at the right time, to complement the wider testing of the national programme and the large amount of specific testing which is already taking place, for example in hospitals and care settings.
"When the lateral flow tests are deployed, we will be focusing on using these additional test kits to provide extra targeting of high-risk areas first, such as frontline teams.
“We are continuing to have discussions with the Department of Health and Social Care to discuss how these plans will be put in place to achieve maximum benefit for our residents. Once we have the tests and the plans in place, we will be communicating further information.
"In the meantime, people who have symptoms of COVID-19 – either a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste - should self-isolate immediately and then request a test as soon as possible at www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.
“There is plenty of test availability for symptomatic people, whether at the Humber Bridge test site, other established and mobile test units or the test kits which can be delivered to people’s homes.
"The additional Lateral Flow Testing testing will be used in a different way to the national NHS testing programme of people with symptoms.
"It will be used to target high-risk places and settings - to enable frontline, essential staff to keep doing their important work and to protect our most vulnerable members of society.
"Thank you to the public and businesses for continuing to support the safety measures which have been put in place and to everyone who is continuing to do those simple, basic things right to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and push infection rates down across our area.
"Please continue to keep thoroughly handwashing, respecting social distance, ventilating inside spaces, wearing face coverings unless exempt, self-isolating when necessary and getting tested as soon as possible if you have symptoms."
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