The government has released a full list of places scheduled to undergo comprehensive testing for coronavirus in an effort to stop the spread.
In total, there are 67 places across England on the list with some targeting tests scheduled to begin Monday and testing in certified territories is expected to start this month.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said that more than 1.6 million tests will be delivered to the first Tier 3 regions participating in the program.
Further new public offerings are set to begin with the addition of DHSC that more than 100 local authorities “participate in the community testing program”.
In Oldham, Greater Manchester, increased access to rapid tests will initially focus on higher-risk supported living spaces, health and social care workers, schools and colleges, according to reports from the Mirror.
Large manufacturing sites and companies with a workforce of more than 200 people will be tested under plans in Lancashire.
In Kirklees, West Yorkshire, the focus will first be on testing the entire community and high-risk workplaces.
But despite the Level 3 restrictions in place in the Northeast, the only group test in the region is Darlington and Stockton-on-Tees.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the improved testing programs are tracking a successful pilot in Liverpool and will be a “vital additional tool” in finding asymptomatic cases.
(Photo: PA)
“Community testing will be very important in helping areas where virus levels are the highest to reduce infection rates, and in the end, they will help districts ease the most stringent restrictions,” he said.
“This is just the beginning, and we are working quickly to start testing the community on a larger scale as soon as more local teams are ready. I urge all those who live in areas where the community test is offered to come forward and get tested.”
The ministry said local authorities could bid for more testing and support “on an ongoing basis” to create a “detailed testing program” for their community.
General Sir Gordon Messenger, Chief of Operations, said: “We want to express our thanks to the more than 100 local authorities that participated quickly and comprehensively, allowing us to move forward with the first phase of the community testing program, and our operation the team will begin rolling out next week.
“We continue to work extensively with local authorities on their proposals to expand the program to more areas in the coming weeks and months, and to increase testing services available to communities.”
Here is a list of the 67 Level 3 boards that will be among the first to start community-based coronavirus testing programs, according to the Ministry of Health.
- Amber Valley
- Bolsover
- Source field
- Derbyshire Deals
- Northeast Derbyshire
- South Derbyshire
- Darlington
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Ashford
- Canterbury
- Dartford
- Dover
- Folkestone and Heath
- Griffsham
- Maidstone
- Seven oaks
- Soil
- Seconds
- Tonbridge and Mulling
- Tunbridge Wells
- Midway
- Blackburn with Darwin
- Blackpool
- Burnley
- Corley
- Fill
- Hindburn
- Lancaster
- Bendel
- Preston
- Ripple Valley
- Rosendale
- South Ripple
- West Lancashire
- Wire
- Bolton
- burial
- Manchester
- Oldham
- Rochdale
- Salford
- Stockport
- Tameside
- Trafford
- Wigan
- Barnsley
- Bradford
- Kirklees
- Birmingham
- Dudley
- Sandwell
- Canuck Chase
- East Staffordshire
- Litchfield
- Newcastle Under Lyme
- South Staffordshire
- Stafford
- Staffordshire Moorlands
- Tamworth ”
- Stoke-on-Trent
- North Warwickshire
- Noneton and Badworth
- Football
- Stratford-on-Avon
- Warwick
- Wolverhampton
- Solihull
