Matt Hancock reveals how mass community testing will work

A mass community Covid-19 testing will be rolled out in Tier 3 regions as the national lockdown ends on Wednesday, said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

In a press conference held at Downing Street on Monday (November 30), he said it is an expansion of the voluntary mass testing of university students which began nationwide today ahead of Christmas.

He said the mass community testing will involve those with symptoms and those without symptoms in the Government's bid to stem the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: "Since the start of pandemic, we have built the biggest testing in Europe, in addition to symptomatic testing programme and the rapid testing that we have deployed across the NHS and social care rollout - and we can do more.

Matt HancockMatt Hancock
Matt Hancock

"Today began the (student mass testing) rollout and then we will expand to community testing. We won't just test people with symptoms and automatic transmissions which don't have symptoms but have covid.

"This really matters because by finding the positives, we can break the chain of transmissions and stop people from catching the virus."

Mr Hancock said the mass community testing will mirror the model used in Liverpool where the system was introduced and has successfully brought the rates of the confirmed cases to over three quarters.

Hide Ad

"So, on Wednesday, Liverpool will go to Tier 2 and not Tier 3 and we want to see this sort of success right across the board.

Hide Ad

"I want to see the mass community testing much more widely," he said.

He also urged those even without symptoms, to take up the test.

"You wouldn’t know you’re risking lives around you. If you are offered a test, please take it, you might save a life.”

Hide Ad

Mr Hancock also said the Government has been working with those moving into Tier 3 to set out the next phase so they can get out of the toughest restrictions faster.

"We've already received significant interest from around the country.

Hide Ad

"This offer is available all across the UK and will be delivered in partnership with local authorities in Tier 3 areas.

"By using tests that can turn results around in under 30 minutes we can identify and then isolate people who have covid, including crucially the people who don't have those symptoms at all, but can nevertheless pass the infection on,” he said.

Hide Ad

On concerns that the local authorities may bear an exorbitant cost to carry out the exercise, Mr Hancock said the Government will provide them with extra funding that includes up to £14 per test done.

"In the prospectus we are publishing right now, it includes extra funding for local authorities up to £14 per test done. This is significant extra funding across the UK for councils to make this work in the model of Liverpool,” he said.

Claiming that coronavirus is now “back under control”, he also admitted that the new restrictions have been tough but they have been working.

He said: "We don't have much headroom. We can't risk letting cases rise again, especially into Christmas and with the flu season around the corner."