People living Chase Terrace are being urged to seek a coronavirus test after the area was identified as a hotspot for COVID-19.
It was included in a new list of locations across Staffordshire being targeted in a bid to stop the spread of infections.
Those living in Chase Terrace can now get a test via the online portal by checking the option for ‘my council has asked me to book a test’.
Cllr Johnny McMahon, cabinet member for health, care and wellbeing at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“We are targeting testing where it is needed most and are encouraging everyone who lives in a hotspot to get tested.
“We are also looking to roll out more rapid covid tests across the county, but these are currently limited and it will take some weeks to scale up the operation.
“We’re busy recruiting people to help with these tests, which will eventually see up to 80,000 people in the county tested every single week.”
Cllr Johnny McMahon, Staffordshire County Council
The county council said the list of COVID-19 hotspots would be reviewed on Mondays and Thursdays weekly, with the areas being targeted published on www.staffordshire.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Other hotspots in the current list include Great Wyrley, Glascote and Amington.
Dr Richard Harling, director of health and care in Staffordshire, said:
“Getting tested if you have symptoms or if you are asked to do so because you live in a COVID hotspot, together with the following the rules, is the best way to stop the spread of infection, get some restrictions lifted and get back some of the freedoms we once enjoyed.”
Dr Richard Harling
Where is the nearest testing station please Angela Thompson
How come I can’t book a test due to no availability in Lichfield from tomorrow onwards ??
The official communication on Covid-19 and testing is woeful – that is within Lichfield District, Staffordshire and nationally. If you do not have easy or regular access to online you are pretty much stuffed. LichfieldLive is a massive lifeline and does all it can to spread the latest news and I continue to applaud the team for providing such a valuable resource.
But it is a massive worry that people are so confused about what is happening, ask fairly basic questions on here about testing programmes and generally are more inclined to listen to a “bloke down the road on Facebook” (with all due respect to blokes down the road everywhere, they are rarely the font of all knowledge).
In order for people to get the right information when it is required why aren’t LDC, SCC and the Government providing far more offline information? We get ministers and MPs claiming we are doing things incorrectly or not following the rules, but if you are not using social media, if you do not spend at least part of your day online and if you no longer have access to local newspapers or any other form of media, then how do they expect people to stay up-to-date and fully informed?
When the history texts start to be written about 2020 and our response to the pandemic, this fundamental breakdown in basic communication will be one of many aspects that will have future generations scratching their heads in disbelief.
Not everyone is online. Not everyone uses social media. Not everyone consumes news and information in a digital way. Arguably those most in need of this information and advice are the ones who are falling through the gaps. This was obvious back in March. It is now December and the lack of communication is just as bad.
The local MP only uses Twitter and some other social media part of the problem
where is the nearest test centre to Burntwood please
It’s a fair point Scribbler. I think one of the problems with non-digital communication is that the situation (and much of the guidance) changes so rapidly – and with such little notice – that offline sources such as leaflets and posters can stay in circulation despite becoming out of date and potentially misleading, incredibly quickly. It’s compounded by the fact that it’s not unusual for national government information to be provided to local authorities days after it’s been announced to the media …
I’m certainly with The Scribbler on his comments about lack of communication from the powers that be, whether local or national. As he says, many people use neither the internet or social media; many must be totally bewildered, since even the Lichfield Chronicle has ceased publication.
Surely it is not beyond the intelligence of our councillors and officers, perhaps assisted by our publicity greedy MP, to devise a way of letting the local population know what is going on on a regular basis.
Knowledge is power; perhaps sharing it with their voters would aid the fight against the virus, and might even be remembered at the next election!
Our publicity greedy MP only uses social media to connect with his constituents,he does not like face to face contact such as having a weekly meeting point in one of the cities empty shops.
Perhaps they could drive around the streets in cars fitted with speakers, like the politicians used at election time, and tell us what is happening. It would be nice to see this medium being used for something useful for a change.
What a good idea John Allen. They could also go to local shopping areas.