ENHANCED Door-to-door household PCR COVID-19 testing is set to begin in Warrington this weekend, from Friday 9 July, due to the town’s high case numbers, which have continued to rise over recent weeks.
Household visits will be undertaken by trained, specialist testing teams, who will be encouraging those 11-years-old and over in the household to do a PCR test to identify cases of coronavirus – particularly for those who have the virus but are not displaying any symptoms.
This door-to-door activity, known as surge testing, has been used previously in Bolton and will help to identify cases and monitor how the virus is spreading, which will keep neighbourhoods and communities safer.
The team will not carry out the test, they will give out the tests and return to the household later in the day to collect them.
The household visiting team will target specific areas of Warrington where the rate of testing is lower and where vaccine uptake is also comparably low.
The first weekend of activity will take place from 9 to 11 July in parts of Great Sankey South. Subject to the government’s decision on whether we move to step 4 of the roadmap, alongside other restrictions possibly being lifted from Monday 19 July, surge testing may also take place in other parts of the borough later in the month.
Despite the high vaccine take-up in Warrington generally, there are pockets of the town where vaccine uptake is slightly lower. This, alongside the fact that receiving the vaccine cannot completely guarantee no ill health if the virus is spread, means that people in Warrington can still become ill if they catch coronavirus.
The surge testing programme will therefore also offer residents the chance to ask any questions about the vaccine, and be supported to know where they can get vaccinated if they have been offered it and have not yet received it.
Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: “Enhanced testing is a key part of our continued response to rising coronavirus cases in Warrington. The more cases of the virus we can identify, the more chance we have of halting its transmission.
“Our communities have shown outstanding levels of resilience and sacrifice since the beginning of the pandemic. We know we’re asking for further support through our enhanced testing regime, but if we can all do our bit now, it means we stand the best chance of having an enjoyable summer ahead of us.”
Warrington’s Director of Public Health, Thara Raj, said: “Our door-to-door visits are one tactic of many that we are deploying in Warrington over the coming weeks.
“As well as taking part in the testing if we come to visit, please make sure to keep accessing the symptom-free tests (LFTs) twice a week, to check if you unknowingly have the virus.
“It’s also essential you take up the vaccine when you’re offered it. The vast majority of residents offered the vaccine so far have taken it – but some haven’t. The vaccine will give you the very best protection from the virus and is our long-term solution out of the pandemic.
“Also remember – even if you have been vaccinated, you can still get coronavirus, and you can still potentially be poorly with it – albeit not as severely. This means it’s still important for your own health, and the health of others, to keep testing, and to stick to the ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’ basics.”
For more information, visit warrington.gov.uk/enhanced-response-area
