NewsUKUK Politics Coronavirus: Military to provid
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Posted On: 11/23/2020 3:22:08 PM
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Coronavirus: Military to provide rapid testing in all areas under tier 3 restrictions after England’s lockdown
Contacts of people who test positive for Covid could avoid need to self-isolate under repeat testing plan
Ashley Cowburn
Political Correspondent
@ashcowburn
22 hours ago
The army have been involved in rapid testing pilot scheme in Liverpool
The army have been involved in rapid testing pilot scheme in Liverpool (PA)
All areas placed under tier 3 restrictions when England’s national lockdown ends next month will get military support to provide rapid community Covid testing, Boris Johnson is to pledge.
The announcement comes following a trial in Liverpool, where infections were surging ahead of nationwide restrictions, earlier this month. Local leaders have suggested the programme has helped to identify hundreds of asymptomatic cases.
Using rapid lateral flow tests – producing results in 30 minutes – the testing regime in the city has seen over 200,000 people being tested and contributed to a “substantial fall” in coronavirus cases, No 10 said.
Addressing MPs on Monday, the prime minister will outline a return to a tougher version of the regional tiered approach to control the virus when national restrictions are lifted in just under a fortnight.
He will say that leaders of local authorities placed in tier 3 – the most severe level of measures – will be able use test and trace and the armed forces to help administer extensive community testing.
Watch more
Mass Covid testing pilot promises possibilities - and pitfalls
An additional £7bn will also be provided for test and trace services – taking total expenditure this year from £12bn to £22bn.
The government added that repeat testing will also be trialled in Liverpool so contacts of people who test positive will not have to self-isolate for a 14-day period providing they are not found to be infected themselves.
Downing Street suggested contacts will be offered the chance to be tested every day for a week and will not need to quarantine unless they test positive for Covid-19. The trial, to begin in Liverpool on Monday, will be extended across the NHS and care homes in December if successful before being rolled out nationwide in the new year.
Additional testing for all staff working in food manufacturing, prisons and the vaccine programme will also be offered weekly from next month.
Speaking on Monday, the prime minister will say: “The selflessness of people in following the rules is making a difference. The virus is not spreading nearly as quickly as it would if we were not washing our hands, maintaining social distance, wearing masks and so on.
“And in England, where national measures came into effect at the start of this month, the increase in new cases is flattening off’.”
“But we are not out of the woods yet,” he will add. “The virus is still present in communities across the country, and remains both far more infectious and far more deadly than seasonal flu.
“But with expansion in testing and vaccines edging closer to deployment, the regional tiered system will help get the virus back under control and keep it there.”
It is not yet known which areas are destined for tier 3, with ministers preparing to outline that on Thursday.
But Downing Street has said a greater number of areas are expected to enter the higher tiers in order to preserve the gains against Covid-19 made during the lockdown.
MORE ABOUT
BORIS JOHNSON
CORONAVIRUS
LIVERPOOL
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Coronavirus: Military to provide rapid testing in all areas under tier 3 restrictions after England’s lockdown
Contacts of people who test positive for Covid could avoid need to self-isolate under repeat testing plan
Ashley Cowburn
Political Correspondent
@ashcowburn
22 hours ago
The army have been involved in rapid testing pilot scheme in Liverpool
The army have been involved in rapid testing pilot scheme in Liverpool (PA)
All areas placed under tier 3 restrictions when England’s national lockdown ends next month will get military support to provide rapid community Covid testing, Boris Johnson is to pledge.
The announcement comes following a trial in Liverpool, where infections were surging ahead of nationwide restrictions, earlier this month. Local leaders have suggested the programme has helped to identify hundreds of asymptomatic cases.
Using rapid lateral flow tests – producing results in 30 minutes – the testing regime in the city has seen over 200,000 people being tested and contributed to a “substantial fall” in coronavirus cases, No 10 said.
Addressing MPs on Monday, the prime minister will outline a return to a tougher version of the regional tiered approach to control the virus when national restrictions are lifted in just under a fortnight.
He will say that leaders of local authorities placed in tier 3 – the most severe level of measures – will be able use test and trace and the armed forces to help administer extensive community testing.
Watch more
Mass Covid testing pilot promises possibilities - and pitfalls
An additional £7bn will also be provided for test and trace services – taking total expenditure this year from £12bn to £22bn.
The government added that repeat testing will also be trialled in Liverpool so contacts of people who test positive will not have to self-isolate for a 14-day period providing they are not found to be infected themselves.
Downing Street suggested contacts will be offered the chance to be tested every day for a week and will not need to quarantine unless they test positive for Covid-19. The trial, to begin in Liverpool on Monday, will be extended across the NHS and care homes in December if successful before being rolled out nationwide in the new year.
Additional testing for all staff working in food manufacturing, prisons and the vaccine programme will also be offered weekly from next month.
Speaking on Monday, the prime minister will say: “The selflessness of people in following the rules is making a difference. The virus is not spreading nearly as quickly as it would if we were not washing our hands, maintaining social distance, wearing masks and so on.
“And in England, where national measures came into effect at the start of this month, the increase in new cases is flattening off’.”
“But we are not out of the woods yet,” he will add. “The virus is still present in communities across the country, and remains both far more infectious and far more deadly than seasonal flu.
“But with expansion in testing and vaccines edging closer to deployment, the regional tiered system will help get the virus back under control and keep it there.”
It is not yet known which areas are destined for tier 3, with ministers preparing to outline that on Thursday.
But Downing Street has said a greater number of areas are expected to enter the higher tiers in order to preserve the gains against Covid-19 made during the lockdown.
MORE ABOUT
BORIS JOHNSON
CORONAVIRUS
LIVERPOOL
Inside Politics, your daily politics briefing
We need your email address for your subscriptionPlease enter a valid email addressPlease enter a valid email address
I want to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent
Comments
Share your thoughts and debate the big issues
Learn more
GET IN TOUCH
Contact us
Jobs
OUR PRODUCTS
Subscriptions
Install our apps
Archive
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
International editions
Independent en Español
Independent Arabia
Independent Turkish
Independent Persian
Independent Urdu
Evening Standard
Novaya Gazeta
EXTRAS
All topics
Voucher codes
Advertising guide
Syndication
LEGAL
Code of conduct and complaints
Contributors
Cookie policy
Donations Terms & Conditions
Privacy notice
User policies
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