Stoke residents to be offered COVID testing on their doorsteps
It's part of a new campaign to get more people involved in testing themselves
Residents across Stoke-on-Trent will be offered lateral flow testing kits on their doorsteps in a drive to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the city.
COVID stewards and staff from Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will visit households in areas across the city where testing rates have been low and COVID-19 rates have been historically high.
The teams will provide households with lateral flow testing kits and offer advice on how to use the kits, and answer any questions residents may have.
The first area staff will visit is Joiners Square on Wednesday, 28 July 2021, before then continuing their targeted deliveries across the whole city.
Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones, Director of Public Health in Stoke-on-Trent said:
“The latest figures show that the seven-day rate of coronavirus cases in Stoke-on-Trent is now 555 per 100,000 people, for the week 14 July – 20 July 2021, with an increase of 5.4 per cent on the previous seven days. The percentage of people who have had a test and tested positive is 13.5 per cent. Regular testing and isolating positive cases is key to driving down our positivity rate.
“As families spend more quality time together and get out and about more over the summer break, it’s important we continue to help protect ourselves and each other through regular COVID-19 testing, getting our vaccinations when we are able to, wearing face coverings in busy places and practising Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air where we can.
"Our teams can offer advice on testing and answer any questions you may have.
"If a resident does test positive through the testing scheme, they will be supported by our staff. Ultimately, we want to ensure that our residents are informed on how they can stay safe while COVID-19 is still with us.”
Dr Ian Turner, Deputy Chief Nurse and Director of Infection Prevention & Control for Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“The worrying increase in the number of cases both locally and nationally in recent weeks has shown COVID-19 continues to remain a clear and present threat.
“As part of the wider campaign to tackle COVID in Stoke-on-Trent, we’re once again working closely with the city council to offer home testing kits to residents living in areas identified as having a high COVID case rate. Testing is simple, quick and helps to stop the spread of infection.”
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