Leeds hospital staff to be regularly tested for coronavirus - whether they have symptoms or not

Hospital staff in Leeds will soon be routinely tested for coronavirus regardless of whether they have symptoms or not.
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From next week, the Prime Minister said NHS staff working in areas where coronavirus rates are rising - including parts of Yorkshire, the North West, and the North East - would be tested repeatedly.

Leeds was in the list of areas confirmed by Downing Street, joining Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Basingstoke, and Southampton.

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While swab tests that do not need to be sent away to laboratories, where results are delivered within an hour, will be rolled out in adult social care, schools, and universities in the hardest hit areas.

Hospital workers outside Leeds General Infirmary to salute local heroes during the Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: PAHospital workers outside Leeds General Infirmary to salute local heroes during the Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: PA
Hospital workers outside Leeds General Infirmary to salute local heroes during the Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: PA

Areas in Tier 3 restrictions will be prioritised for the rapid tests, but the PM said tests would also be made available for local directors of public health to distribute.

However Mr Johnson warned it would take time to develop the system to work safely.

He told a Downing Street news conference: “No country in the world is regularly testing millions of people, so we need to take the time to establish how to do this effectively and safely, and to build the logistics and distribution operation necessary for a large-scale operation across the country.

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“We won’t be able to use testing to get business back to normal quickly. In time, we want to use tests to open, and keep open, more parts of the economy that have sadly been closed.

“But it is crucial that we make sure such systems work safely and, I must level with you, that it will take time to get this right before many organisations can buy and operate these tests themselves.”

He added that some of the saliva tests could deliver results in just 15 minutes.

“Over the next few weeks we will start distributing and trialling these tests across the country. This will enable us to do quick turnaround tests on NHS staff and care home staff more frequently,” he said.

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“By testing more frequently and quickly than ever before we can help the spread of the virus spreading through care homes.

“We will be able to test students in universities with outbreaks as well as children in schools, helping us to keep education open safely over the winter.”