Warwickshire residents urged to follow new Covid testing guidance introduced today - The Stratford Observer

Warwickshire residents urged to follow new Covid testing guidance introduced today

Stratford Editorial 11th Jan, 2022   0

WARWICKSHIRE residents are being urged to follow new Covid testing guidance introduced today (Tuesday January 11).

From today, anyone who gets a positive lateral flow test (LFT) result is required to self-isolate immediately, but no longer needs to take a confirmatory PCR test.

The suspension of PCR testing following a positive LFT result is a temporary measure introduced while Covid cases remain high across the UK. Similar changes were put in place in January 2021 when case numbers were also high.

Coun Margaret Bell, Warwickshire County Council’s spokeswoman for adult social care and health, said: “As cases of Covid-19 remain high across the UK, now is a really important time to do the right thing for Warwickshire by taking regular lateral flow tests and self-isolating when required to minimise the spread in our communities.




“Alongside regular testing to control the spread, the Covid-19 vaccine offers increased protection against the virus. I urge everyone to keep yourself and those you love safe by getting the first, second, and booster vaccines if you are eligible – it’s not too late to get them and it will help everyone to stay as safe as possible this winter.”

All lateral flow test results should be reported at www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result. For positive results reported, Test and Trace will be in touch so any close contacts of the positive case can be notified. A person with a positive LFT result will be able to leave self-isolation seven days after the date of their initial positive test, provided they receive two negative LFT results, 24 hours apart, on days six and seven.


People eligible for the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment (TTSP), who have participated in research or surveillance programmes, or

who are at risk of becoming seriously ill from Covid and who have been identified by the NHS as being potentially eligible for new treatments are exempt from the suspension of PCR testing following a positive LFT result.

Home lateral flow test kits can be ordered online at www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-kits, by calling 119, or collected from local pharmacies with a collection code (which can be accessed at https://test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/collect-lateral-flow-kits or by scanning a QR code in a pharmacy).

A limited supply of LFT kits can also be picked up at over 25 fixed community collect sites around the county, or one box per household can be collected from one of the mobile testing units popping up around Warwickshire. Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/covidtesting for more information.

People with no Covid symptoms who would prefer to test at a dedicated testing site can visit United Reform Church in Nuneaton on weekdays (9.15am to 4.45pm) and on Saturdays (10.15am to 3.45pm). The church is also offering vaccinations and has plenty of capacity. Visit www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination to book an appointment.

Public Health Warwickshire also advises residents to continue washing and sanitising hands regularly, keeping a distance from those we do not live with, wearing a face-covering in public settings unless exempt – especially when there is poor ventilation, and letting in plenty of fresh air when meeting people indoors.

Visit www.nhs.uk for more information about vaccines, to book appointments, or to find a walk-in vaccination clinic.

Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/coronavirus for more information.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/54yprvfw to book a Covid vaccination if are eligible.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/3kec6mnu for more details on the PCR testing updates.

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