70,000 people in Berkshire offered extra covid tests
Reading now has one of the highest Covid-19 case rates in the country
Last updated 4th Jun 2021
People living in parts of Reading, Woodley and Wokingham Town centre are to be offered extra covid tests after a jump in the number of delta variant cases.
Delta variant is the name given to the variant first identified in India.
Reading now has one of the highest Covid-19 case rates in the country, with case numbers now almost doubling every week.
80% of the cases are the so-called Indian variant, with 84.1 cases per 100,000 in the last seven days.
30,000 residents in four central Reading postcodes - RG1 3, RG1 5, RG1 6 and RG1 7  - will be offered extra tests over the coming two weeks.
How Reading’s case rates compare to other areas of Berkshire:
Reading: 84.1
Slough: 65.5
Bracknell: 53
Wokingham: 52.6
West Berkshire: 29
Windsor & Maidenhead: 15.8
Across the UK, the average is 33.7 cases per 100,000 in the last week.
Behind on vaccines
More than 30 per cent of people in Reading (30.3 per cent) have now received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine in Reading, while 55 per cent have received a first dose, according to NHS statistics from June 2.
This is behind the average across the UK, with more than 50 per cent of people now having received both doses across the four nations and 75.5 per cent of people have received a single dose.
None of the Berkshire local authority areas have yet achieved a 50 per cent rate for both doses, with West Berkshire coming closest on 49.5 per cent.
In Wokingham 40,000 residents are affected in Bulmershe and Whitegates, Evendons, Norreys, and Wescott wards.
One of those areas is in the Reading suburb of Woodley but the others are in and around Wokingham town centre.
Meradin Peachey, Director of Public Health (Berkshire West) said:
“We have been monitoring the situation very closely and now need residents in these areas to come forward for a test. You should do this even if you’ve had the Covid-19 vaccine as you can still catch and spread the virus. Infection rates are rising across the borough and this variant is much more transmissible. The more cases we find, the better chance we have at suppressing it.
“Please help to keep your community and loved ones safe by getting tested. You should also continue to follow the guidance that is in place – limit your number of contacts, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, keep your distance and cover your face. If you test positive by any method, you must isolate to stop the spread of the virus. If you have been in close contact with someone who tests positive you must also self-isolate.”
If someone tests positive, they must self-isolate immediately and pass on details on their contacts to NHS Test and Trace.
How to get tested
Those in the Reading target groups can access a test by attending a local test site from Monday 7 June. Test sites include Prospect Park and the University of Reading.
A full list of sites and opening hours is available at www.reading.gov.uk/testnow and will be updated as more sites become available. No appointment is needed. 
It is also possible to order a test online from www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.
Residents in the Wokingham areas can get a Covid-19 test at one of Wokingham Borough Council’s dedicated testing sites – there is no need to book and all information on where sites are located is available at: www.wokingham.gov.uk/surge-testing