Oldham Residents urged to get Covid19 tested

Oldham Council is urging residents to book a free coronavirus test with a series of permanent and mobile sites now available across the borough.

It follows concerns about a rise in Covid19 cases across Oldham.

Tests can be booked for free at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by dialling 119 – which will put you through to the dedicated NHS coronavirus testing service.

You are able book a test for yourself and up to three additional members of your household.

Testing takes a few minutes and staff are on hand to guide you through the process and support you. It’s quick and painless and available for both adults and children.

You can also order a home testing kit on the website or phoneline and carry out the test in the comfort of your own home.

If you have any symptoms of coronavirus, it’s important you get tested as soon as possible. Not only will it keep you safe, it also means your close contacts can be traced and the outbreak controlled.

Because many people can be asymptomatic – showing no or very little signs of having coronavirus - Oldham Council is also urging those without symptoms to get tested.

Cllr Arooj Shah, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council and Cabinet Member for Covid-19 Recovery, said: “Testing is crucial if we are to stop the spread of Coronavirus, save lives, and avoid a local lockdown.

“The more testing we do, the more we can understand where the virus is circulating and how it is spreading. We can focus our resources where they are most needed. And we can see if the positivity rate - the rate of positive tests - is starting to come down.

“There is a misconception that the more we test, the higher our positivity rate, and therefore the more we risk a local lockdown. This is not true.

“As testing rates increase, we would expect to see negative tests as much as positive – but at the moment that isn’t the case. We need to test as much as possible so we can start to see the rate coming down and know that the virus is under control in Oldham.

“We can’t afford to put lives, jobs and businesses at risk - which are doing their best to get back on their feet after the last lockdown. Please help us to fight this by taking advantage of one of the many nearby testing sites or ordering a home testing kit.”

 

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