Coronavirus: Peterborough asks to trial mass Covid-19 testing

Director of public health for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Dr Liz Robin said: “We’ve put in an expression of interest and we’re working on how we think this technology could best support our programmes in Peterborough.

“There is some careful work being done on how we can best use this to get the maximum impact. We’re in discussions with regional representatives about that. We’re very much on the case but there is nothing to announce at the moment.”

Mass testing was initially trialled in Liverpool and is set to be rolled out to other parts of England. It means asking everyone to be tested, whether or not they have symptoms.

Currently in Peterborough there are a number of ways to get tested, including at Gladstone Park Community Centre where people can walk in.

Dr Robin said: “We want to encourage anyone who has coronavirus symptoms to have a test. And it’s important they self-isolate and their close contacts as well.

“We know its tough - people need to get to shops, walk their dog, pick up medicine or go to work to get money. We understand that and want to support people self-isolate as that’s the way to stop spread of coronavirus.

“There is lots of help available, including access to food and financial support.”

Asked what Peterborough City Council is doing to combat rising Covid rates in the city, which are the highest they’ve been since the first national lockdown, Dr Robin said: “We have clearly planned on the basis for these higher rates. We work with our community leaders and have been doing lots of work on how to communicate and the messages we need to communicate.

“There is also more enforcement work and marshals out on the streets. We’ve beefed that up. Our local test and trace contacting service has also contacted 83 per cent of people the national system hasn’t been able to contact.”