COMMUNITY Covid-19 testing services for key workers will start to be rolled out across the county in early February.

The service will use a rapid lateral flow test to help identify people who have Covid but display no symptoms.

By detecting infectious individuals early, isolating them and tracing their contacts, transmission of the virus can be reduced.

Read also: Oxford lockdown: a busy Cornmarket Street during lockdown

Oxfordshire County Council is currently working closely with Oxfordshire district and city councils to set up community testing facilities in three locations – one in Banbury, one in Wantage, and one in the city of Oxford.

Ansaf Azhar, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “We are working closely with partners both locally and nationally to plan the effective rollout of community testing.

"We are liaising with the Department of Health and Social Care, and the military, and hope to start inviting key workers for a test from early February onwards.

Read here: Public 'gutted' over Debenhams closure

“It is now believed that one in three people infected with COVID do not know that they have the virus.

"The rapid spread of the highly infectious new variant of coronavirus makes community testing for those who work outside the home an even greater priority.

"It will allow us to better identify asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19, and so help us more effectively control the virus and stop the spread.

“Community testing is one of a number of local systems we have in Oxfordshire to help manage the virus, including expanded testing capacity for those with symptoms, a local contact tracing service - which has now successfully reached over 1,000 contacts - and our COVID-secure teams, who are working with businesses across the county to ensure they are following lockdown restrictions. Collectively they provide valuable tools in the fight against the virus.”

You can read more here: https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/communitytesting/