Peterborough keyworkers urged to take up rapid Covid tests

Rapid testing for key workers and all those who cannot work from home launched across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough over the past week to help track cases of coronavirus and drive down transmission rates.

A number of sites are being set up across the county offering rapid tests to people aged 18 and over who have no symptoms of coronavirus. It follows a commitment from the Government to test as many people who are key workers and/or cannot work from home as possible.

Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council have been allocated 100,000 tests in the next six weeks, with the potential for the pilot to be extended.

One of the sites is at St Mark’s Church in Lincoln Road which was visited by city council leader Cllr John Holdich, and deputy leader Cllr Wayne Fitzgerald, earlier this week.

The pair met centre manager Ronnie Nyoni and keyworker Georgina Flack.

Cllr Holdich said: “It doesn’t take long - you get the results within 30 minutes and it cuts down the spread of the virus.”

Around one in three people who are infected with Covid-19 have no symptoms and could be spreading the disease without knowing it.