Residents in areas of Leeds are being asked to take part in a new week-long programme of testing designed to help national research into the potential spread of COVID-19 variants.
This week, people living and working in the LS8 area, including parts of Harehills area and the area just north of Easterly Road, will be encouraged to take a simple COVID-19 test which will help experts build a better picture of how different strains of the virus could be transmitted.
The programme will see people living in the area who do not have any symptoms of COVID-19 invited to take a test either at home or at the Infinity Centre as well as taking part in enhanced contact tracing.
Who should get a test?
You can get tested if you live in one of these postcode areas from 22 February for a week:
- LS7 1
- LS8 1
- LS8 2
- LS8 3
- LS8 4
- LS8 5
- LS9 7
You can get a test for coronavirus if you live in targeted locations and are aged 16 years or over
You can get a test even if:
- you have no symptoms of coronavirus
- you’ve had a vaccination for coronavirus
- you’ve tested positive for coronavirus previously (but not within the last 90 days)
If you’ve recently spent time within one of the areas targeted for testing but do not live there, you should continue to follow the national restrictions and may attend the mobile testing centre.
Who should not get a test?
If you have tested positive within the last 90 days, you do not need to be tested.
How to get a test?
You can get a test by attending the Infinity Centre, Conway Road, Leeds LS8 5JH between 10am and 3.30pm from Monday 22 February until Sunday 28. Volunteers will also be going door-to-door to help as many people get a test as possible.
What happens after your test?
If you test positive, your test will be sent to a laboratory for genomic sequencing.
You must isolate with your household and follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus infections. Public Health England will carry out enhanced tracing of close contacts of confirmed cases of the variant.
There is currently no evidence that variants cause more severe illness.
Positive tests from institutions within these specific locations, such as care homes, will also be sent for genomic sequencing.
Even if you test negative you should continue to follow the national lockdown rules.
Comments are closed.