Testing warning for suspected Covid cases in Lancashire

The Lancashire Resilience Forum has made the plea as they called for people who have had close contact with someone with coronavirus to self-isolate.

Due to higher levels of cases, there are additional testing arrangements in place for people in Burnley, parts of Blackburn, Hyndburn, parts of Pendle, and Preston.

This includes testing in these areas is available for people without symptoms but they should not be used by people from other areas.

Lancashire Resilience Forum is overseeing and co-ordinating the county’s multi-agency response to the pandemic.

From today, the government has announced people will be required to self-isolate by law if they test positive or are contacted by a Test and Trace service.

Schools could tell students and staff to self-isolate if they been in contact with someone who has tested positive.

Anyone failing to self-isolate could get a £1,000 fine if they should be doing so and from today the government has announced this could increase to £10,000 for repeat offences.

Neil Jack, chairman of the regional co-ordination group on the LRF said: “If someone in your house has Covid, then you should self-isolate. You only need to get tested though if you develop symptoms yourself or have been officially asked to. By self-isolating, you’ll keep other people safe by reducing contact with them for a short time.

“In most parts of Lancashire, you don’t need to get a test unless you’ve got symptoms, or are specifically asked to, such as by the Test and Trace system. Tests are in high demand around the country, so we’re asking to think about other people.”

Neil added: “We know that some people have been trying to get tested without any symptoms, so that they can be cleared to go back to work, college or school.

“You shouldn’t be doing this unless you have symptoms or live in one of these specific areas of intervention. Otherwise please self-isolate and follow the guidance.

“It’s important that we all work together and look after each other. We all want to see our friends and family, but we don’t want to risk spreading Covid to them.”

Anyone in Lancashire with symptoms can book a test through the government system by calling 119 or online at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.

You can also book a test through the government’s new Covid contract tracing app, which is now available. Find out more: www.nhs.uk/apps-library/nhs-covid-19