Testing teams will start knocking on doors across Southport’s Cambridge and Dukes wards today to deliver COVID-19 home testing kits and, where possible, wait while they are completed.
Testing for the South African variant of the COVID-19 virus is being carried out in the town’s Dukes, Cambridge and Norwood wards after Sefton Council was notified of two, apparently unrelated historic cases in the area. The Council is urging everyone aged 16 or over within the target areas to get a test.
Anyone delivering or collecting home testing kits will be able to show clear identification and will not ask for any money or request anyone’s financial details. Neither will they enter people’s homes.
Yesterday saw a new Mobile Testing Unit at Southport’s Theatre and Convention Centre, which some refer to locally as the Floral Hall, in addition to the Mobile Unit at the Kew park-and-ride site in the Norwood ward. Open every day from 8am to 6.30pm, both Units are specifically for identifying cases of the variant.
People in Dukes, Cambridge and Norwood wards who don’t have the coronavirus symptoms of a raised temperature, new persistent cough or loss of taste or smell can use either of them. People are advised to arrive before 6pm to ensure they get tested.
Andrea Watts, Sefton Council’s Executive Director for People, who has been coordinating the testing arrangements said: “Thousands of local people living and working in the targeted areas of Southport have already taken a test and the extension of door to door deliveries of home testing kits today will make it easier for more people to help us identify and eliminate the variant.
“The extended door-to-door deliveries will start in the parts of the Cambridge and Dukes wards closes to the town centre but if people don’t want to wait, they can always go along to either of the Mobile Testing Units.
“They might even want to call in while out enjoying their daily exercise.”
Since announcing it has been notified of the first local South African variant case, Sefton Council has been stressing that everyone across the Borough must still follow the national lockdown regulations to protect themselves and others.
Everyone should be staying at home and only be going out for essential purposes such as shopping for essential supplies, going to work if we can’t do so from home, providing care and their daily exercise. And when out, it is important people ensure they are keeping to 2-metres’ distancing, wearing masks or face coverings and washing their hands thoroughly and frequently.
OTS News on Social Media