Ten thousand people in Pollokshields to be offered PCR Covid tests on their doorsteps

32,000 lateral flow kits and around 10,000 single PCR tests are being offered on doorsteps in Pollokshields.

It's as Glasgow City Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde work together to increase the COVID-19 testing capacity in the areas affected by the current outbreak.

Local Test Sites carrying out PCR testing has also increased, as well as making all test sites in the city available for asymptomatic testing.

Lateral Flow Tests have also been made available through southside mosques with Imams urging worshipers to collect tests for their families.

From this week, rapid result Lateral Flow Test kits containing seven tests each will be delivered by post to every household in the G41 and G42 postcodes and PCR testing will also be rolled out door-to-door in Pollokshields East and West.

Teams will deliver kits door-to-door, encouraging people to take a test and also answer any questions people have. The delivery teams will consist of nurses, Glasgow Home Care staff, volunteers from British Red Cross and some contractors.

Almost 33,000 Lateral Flow Tests were also handed out across Glasgow between last Friday and Sunday and 1775 PCR tests which were also carried out.

Glasgow City Council Leader Susan Aitken said: "The pandemic isn’t over yet. It’s vital that Glasgow gets back on the path to level two then heads back towards normality.

"The way to do that is to stick to the rules and to know if you are infected. Please getting tested even if you have no symptoms. If you test positive then self-isolate and if you need help while doing so, call the Glasgow Helps phoneline on 0141 276 1185 (Freephone 0800 111 4000) If you test negative, please do another test in a few days.

"We will get through this, but each and every one of us needs to play our part."

Dr Linda de Caestecker, Director of Public Health, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said:

"Everyone now has access to free COVID-19 tests, even if you do not have symptoms. We all need to remember that people can have COVID-19 and not show any symptoms while spreading the virus.

"One of the most important ways we can suppress the virus is for everyone to test themselves twice a week. This can be done quickly and easily at home. You can order test kits to be delivered to your home or you can pick them up at one of our testing sites.

"We are delivering testing kits to all households in certain postcodes with increasing rates of infection to make testing as easy as possible.

"I really encourage everyone to take up this offer as soon as the kits are delivered and to register their results immediately afterwards, as shown in the leaflets provided.

"In some of the streets most affected, staff are going door-door with laboratory tests and will assist householders to use them. Please again take up this offer.

"If you receive a positive test result, please adhere to self-isolation requirements in order to protect your loved ones and community. With increased testing, vaccinations and self-isolation, we can reduce the spread of COVID-19, stay healthy and hopefully lift some restrictions."

Mobile test units on the southside are available at the following locations for symptomatic and asymptomatic testing, and the collection of test kits:

• Govanhill Community Building, car park by the health centre, 205 Calder St, G42 7DR; Open 10am to 5pm

• Glasgow Central Mosque, car park, 1 Mosque Avenue, Gorbals, G5 9TA; Open noon to 5pm

• Overflow car park, Barrland Street, Pollokshields, G41 2PE.; 10am-5pm

All of the city’s local test sites are now available for both asymptomatic (without symptoms) and symptomatic (with symptoms) testing. Full list of locations here.

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