Covid testing in ME15
From 2 February door-to-door Covid-19 testing will begin in the ME15 area of Maidstone. This is following the discovery of a case of the South African variant of the virus in the area and all residents are being urged to have a test.
Households within the ME15 area will be visited by staff from Kent Police, Maidstone Borough Council, Kent Fire and Rescue, and other support agencies, who will knock on your door and ask everyone aged 16 and over to carry out a test there and then; this test will then be picked up and sent for laboratory testing within a short time of the initial visit by the same team.
A mobile testing unit will also be based in the car park outside the YMCA at Melrose Close, Shepway to assist people who are unable to be tested at home and used as a drop-off point for these tests.
We wanted to reassure you that this is a genuine request from the authorities as part of the important efforts to locate and track the virus, so please take part if possible. This is a free test with quick results and no one will ask for any payment or bank information.
Andrew Scott-Clark, Director of Public Health for Kent County Council said: “I would encourage everyone to play their part by taking this test when it is offered and follow the usual advice around self-isolation if they test positive. I would like to reassure people that there is currently no evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 variant causes more severe illness, or that the vaccines being used will not protect against it. People across Kent should continue to follow the national restrictions that are currently in place.”
Current guidance includes: limit your number of contacts, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, keep your distance and cover your face. If you test positive by any method, you must isolate to stop the spread of the virus.
People are reminded that the national lockdown is still in place and you should stay at home unless you need to leave the house for essential reasons. Play your part to protect yourselves and your loved ones, and don’t be the reason someone catches COVID. To find information on symptom-free test sites across Kent and book a test, go to kent.gov.uk/symptomfreetest
If you have coronavirus symptoms, please book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119.
You can read more on Kent County Council’s website or visit their targeted testing web page. There is also a public information helpline available, 0300 041 9994.
We know times are challenging, so if you are struggling at the moment and need some support, please contact us.