Surge Covid testing to begin in Leeds with people aged between 18 and 24 urged to come forward
SURGE Covid-19 testing is set to be rolled out in Leeds amid a rise in cases of the Delta variant.
Everyone who lives and works in two of the city’s areas is urged to take a test, especially those aged between 18 and 24.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest updates
The areas where surge testing will start from Tuesday are Headingley and Hyde Park and Little London and Woodhouse.
The Department of Health announced the roll out in a statement today.
“Surge testing will commence tomorrow (Tuesday 22 June) in Headingley and Hyde Park and Little London and Woodhouse wards following a rise in confirmed cases of the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant,” the statement reads.
“All the confirmed cases have been instructed to self-isolate and their contacts have been identified.
“Everyone who lives or works in these areas, especially those between the ages of 18 and 24, are strongly encouraged to take a coronavirus (COVID-19) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, whether they are showing symptoms or not, and to come forward for a vaccine. Cases in both areas are particularly high among this age group, who are mostly unvaccinated.
“Enhanced contact tracing will be used for individuals testing positive with a variant of concern (VOC).
“This is where contact tracers look back over an extended period to determine the route of transmission.
“By using PCR testing, positive results are sent for genomic sequencing at specialist laboratories, helping us to identify COVID-19 cases with a VOC and then prevent their spread.”
It comes as 10,633 Covid-19 cases were recorded in the UK on Monday, a rise of 31.4 per cent on the 7,742 reported this time last week.
However, hospitalisations and deaths are still not as bad as they were in previous waves of the pandemic, with five deaths being recorded today.
Despite the rise in cases hospitalisations remain at a daily rate of 226, with 1,413 admissions reported between June 9 and June 15.
Boris Johnson who delayed June 21 ‘Freedom Day’ by four weeks, refused to rule out future lockdowns and warned Brits of a “rough winter”.
Most read in News
The PM said that July 19’s new Freedom Day was “looking good” – but opened the door to reviving draconian restrictions if “some new horror” emerges in the coming months.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock today announced that plans for autumn booster jabs will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
He also said ministers were mulling plans to let double-jabbed Brits swap quarantine for lateral flow tests.