Date Time
New UK Government Covid testing site opens in Cumbernauld 28 January
The UK Government has today, Thursday 28 January, opened a new drive-through coronavirus testing centre at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld (G68 9NE).
The test centre is part of the largest network of diagnostic testing facilities created in British history. In Scotland, this comprises of seven drive through sites, 27 walk-through sites, 21 mobile units, plus the Glasgow Lighthouse Lab which is working round the clock to process samples.
In Scotland, the UK Government is providing all Covid testing and test processing outside of the NHS. Around two thirds of all daily tests are provided by the UK Government, in support of Scotland’s health services.
UK will offer its genomic expertise worldwide to identify new COVID-19 variants
28th January 2021
The UK will offer its genomic expertise to the international community with the aim of aiding the identification of new variants of COVID-19, the government has announced.
Countries who do not have the resources to identify new strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, will be offered UK capacity to analyse emerging variants.
The New Variant Assessment Platform will be led by Public Health England (PHE), working with NHS Test and Trace and academic partners, as well as the World Health Organization’s SARS-CoV-2 Global Laboratory Working Group.
UK launches global assessment platform to track new coronavirus variants as they emerge The platform will supposedly offer genomics expertise in the UK to identify new variants, to countries who do not have the resources to do so. The novel coronavirus was declared a pandemic of international concern by the WHO in April.
The UK launched a New Variant Assessment Platform on Tuesday, which it says will offer the country s world-leading genomics expertise to identify new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 to countries who do not have the resources to do so. As part of the UK s Presidency of the G7 this year, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock outlined the plans in a speech at the think tank Chatham House the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London as he laid out his vision for a stronger, more collaborative and effective global health system, not just in fighting the COVID-19
Rapid targeted testing initiative offered to council staff in Stockport Last updated
27 January 2021
Rapid targeted testing initiative offered to council staff in Stockport
Lateral flow tests are now being offered by Stockport Council to its frontline staff and those from partner organisations as part of its targeted community COVID-19 testing.
Lateral flow tests are now being offered by Stockport Council to its frontline staff and those from partner organisations as part of its targeted community COVID-19 testing.
Stockport Council is carrying out lateral flow tests by invitation only for staff who can’t do their work solely from home, especially those working with the over 70s, as one of the many measures being used to drive down transmission rates of Covid-19.
UK genomics expertise and capacity to be offered worldwide to find new variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19
The ‘New Variant Assessment Platform’ will help countries to identify changes in the virus, while providing an early warning of new mutations that could endanger the UK
New commitment to improve Global Health Security comes as the UK holds G7 presidency this year
The UK will offer its world-leading genomics expertise to identify new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 to countries who do not have the resources to do so.
The announcement comes as part of a speech the Health Secretary will deliver at Chatham House. As part of the UK’s presidency of the G7 this year, the Health Secretary will outline his vision for a stronger, more collaborative and effective global health system, not just in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, but to ensure the international community is better prepared for future threats.