EVERYBODY in the town can now access asymptomatic tests to help halt the spread of coronavirus. The council’s director of public health Steve Maddern joined South Swindon MP Robert Buckland at the Foundation Park testing site – next to the County Ground – on the day the government launched its new campaign to encourage testing. Mr Maddern told the Adver: “It’s my first opportunity to get out and about and explore some of the test sites and I’m really happy to see the fantastic work they are doing here. “The set-up here is fantastic, the staff training and the engagement have been brilliant.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to reveal the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown on Monday. Borough’s director of public health Steve Maddern told the Adver: “Any plans to get us out of lockdown is going to be welcomed but I think we need to be very cautious on how that is done to make sure that we don’t undo all the good work that we have done. “Although the case rate in Swindon has continued to decline since the start of January, the rate in Swindon, South West and England is still high.” Mr Maddern said yesterday that the number of Covid cases had dropped.
TESTING for people with no Covid symptoms is set to become available in Swindon from next week in a bid to halt the spread of the virus. The rollout of the asymptomatic community testing – also known as lateral flow testing - will start on Monday for all early years workers and carers in the borough. Around one in three people who have coronavirus do not display any symptoms. Swindon’s director of public health Steve Maddern said the programme will help break the chain of transmission, allowing people to get their results in a matter of hours. He said: “The initial eligible cohort will be early years workers and carers. These individuals are known to us and will be contacted with an update on how they can access the programme, so we won’t be widely promoting it this time.