Different approach to mass testing in East Riding says Leader

The Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council is welcoming the news of mass testing in the county.

We have told you that the authority is one of 66 across the country to be involved in the Government plans.

It will see new and rapid technology detect Covid-19 quicker, even in people who do not have symptoms.

Richard Burton says they are going to have a different approach to Liverpool:

"We are going to do it as a more targetted approach for our tests, which is very much around 'fishing' to find the virus. It won't be a call for anybody to come for a test, it's very much about identifying the virus areas.

"The infections are going to get worse but this is going to be a tool in the box that will really help us identify asymptomatic patients, and hopefully really get on top of our infection rate as it's really climbing.

"We'll be working in the best way to find out how to focus these tests and obviously as soon as we're in a position to roll this out, we'll roll it out as soon as we can; but it's going to be a much more focussed approach, so we won't have people queuing at certain locations.

"We're in a lockdown and we have to really get on top of this, because when we come out of lockdown, we want to make sure we're really in a good place and that the infection rate has really gone down. So that's going to be an absolute key for us, so it's back to basics for everybody which is our three steps to safety.

"We've got to make sure that people are focussed on their behaviour and we need them to follow the rules to stop the infection rates rising, take pressure of hospitals and go back to following the basics; washing your hands, cover your face unless you're exempt, maintain your distance and protect your loved ones.

"The Pfizer vaccine has been 90% effective and it's going to be massively important which is going to be another logistical feature in itself to get people vaccinated."