Residents in Stoke-on-Trent Covid hotspots urged to get tested
People in four areas of the city are being asked to get checked.
People who live in Moorcroft, Etruria, Hanley and Tunstall are being asked to get tested for COVID-19 following a spike in positive cases.
Although cases are widespread, latest figures show that these wards are the areas with the highest rates.
14,000 community testing appointments will be available next week across 15 venues.
The seven-day rate of coronavirus cases in the city is 234.8 per 100,000 people, for the week 31 January to 6 February. Trends show the coronavirus case rate for those over 60 is starting to increase.
This comes as the first case of the South African variant of COVID-19, with no links to international travel, has now been identified in Staffordshire. The resident of Stafford borough tested positive in January and the South African variant was picked up as part of routine laboratory screening.
They have recovered and contact tracing has established that the resident had no known contact with people in their local area whilst infectious and no links to other areas where cases have been identified.
Council leader Abi Brown said: "It is fantastic that we now have 15 venues open across the city for residents to get tested at. We have made testing accessible to all communities across Stoke-on-Trent, whether you can only get to a test centre at the weekend, early mornings or after the working day, you can now get a test.
"Booking a test on our website is quick and easy and the process of getting a test at one of our locations takes less than 5 minutes and you get your results within 30 minutes.
“Residents who need to be out and about in Stoke-on-Trent during the lockdown should be getting regular COVID-19 tests, even if they don’t have symptoms.
"One in three people have covid but don’t show any sign of the three main symptoms and that’s why regular testing is one of our main defences against this deadly virus. Keep your friends, colleagues and families safe by getting tested."