The battle to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Cumbria is being boosted by the rollout of the first phase of lateral flow community testing sites around the county.
Phase one initially consists of five sites opening across the county in Carlisle, Aspatria, Kendal, Penrith, and Millom, with further sites opening soon.
People are still encouraged to stay local and not to travel excessively to testing sites far away from their homes.
Currently, the community testing sites are intended only for people that are unable to work from home and those who are in greater community contact as part of their job.
Those that can work from home should continue to do so.
This is aimed to detect the virus in the community and not allowing lockdown restrictions to be eased at this stage.
The lateral flow tests provide a result within 30 minutes, with no need for tests to be sent away to a laboratory for analysis.
Regular LFD testing of people without COVID-19 symptoms is a key part of the Government’s strategy to control the spread of the virus.
LFD testing helps spot asymptomatic carriers, people who do have COVID-19 and are infectious but are not ill.
These people can then self-isolate to protect others.
If you have symptoms of coronavirus, please do not attend the test site, but instead book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.
Complete with strict and safe COVID-19 precautions in place, five test sites are now up and running, with more to follow:
Carlisle: Trinity School Sports Hall, Strand Roaf, CA1 1JB
Saturdays 9:15am – 12:30pm
Wednesdays 5:15pm – 7:30pm
Aspatria: Beacon Hill School, Market Square, CA7 3EZ
Saturdays 9:15am – 12:30pm
Kendal: Queen Katherine School, Appleby Road, LA9 6PJ
Thursdays 5:45pm – 7:30pm
Saturdays 9:15pm – 12:30pm
Penrith: Ullswater Community College, Wetheriggs Lane, CA11 8NG
Saturdays 9:15am – 12:30pm
Wednesdays 5:15pm – 7:30pm
Millom: Millom School, Salthouse Road, LA18 5AB
Saturdays 9:15am – 12:30pm
Wednesdays 5:30pm – 7:30pm
The testing sites will not be open outside these times.
To attend a site and be tested:
No appointment is necessary – please just arrive at the testing site between the stated times.
Wear a face covering unless you have a medical exemption.
About Lateral Flow Testing at Community Sites
Around one in three people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and will be spreading the virus without realising it.
The rapid-turnaround lateral flow tests, which provide results within an hour, are being used to proactively test asymptomatic individuals.
This will help to identify those who unknowingly have the virus and enable those who test positive and their contacts to self-isolate, which can help drive down the R rate locally and save lives.
A Lateral Flow Test detects the presence or absence of coronavirus from a swab or saliva sample.
It takes less than 15 minutes to register and administer the test. After leaving the test site a result will be provided in around 30 minutes.
Your result will be sent to you via SMS and/or email – you will be asked for these contact details on registration. Results will be communicated at latest within a day of the test.
If you do not receive your result within 24 hours, email ask.lft@cumbria.gov.uk.
If you test positive with the lateral flow test you will need to self-isolate for 10 days.
Eligible individuals who test positive will be entitled to the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment in the same way as a regular swab test through NHS Test and Trace. Please note the Government has laid down eligibility criteria.
If you test negative with the lateral flow test you will need to continue to follow the preventative measures currently recommended for stopping the spread of the virus – to protect yourself and others, you must remember important social distancing should continue : Hands. Face. Space.
If you have any queries, email the project team via ask.LFT@cumbria.gov.uk
