Melton people to be targeted with six weeks of Covid ‘surge testing’

Leicestershire County Council said there were plans to do lateral flow tests in Melton which are capable of delivering quick on-site results without the need for lab equipment.

Mike Sandys, director of public health for the county council, said: “We are working on our plans to use lateral flow tests but there is no suggestion of Liverpool-style mass testing coming to Melton.”

Melton MP Alicia Kearns, who described today’s news that the borough would be placed under the highest Tier three restrictions as ‘deeply disappointing’, said she hoped the planned testing initiative would help reduce cases.

She said: “As Melton is in Tier three, we will be targeted with six weeks of surge testing.

“It is my understanding that Leicestershire County Council has received the initial resources to start mass testing, however I will provide a further update as soon as I have one.”

Melton’s infection rate - 289 cases per 100,000 population - is well above the national average and the borough’s rate for those aged 17 to 21 (605.8) is now the highest in Leicestershire due to a doubling of cases from seven to 14 over the last week.

The good news is Melton’s infection rate has fallen from 326 last week and the borough’s rate for those aged over 60 is below the national average.

Following today’s announcement, Mrs Kearns commented: “Tier three is deeply disappointing, but sadly understandable for Melton and the Vale given the above national average rates of Covid-19 locally.

“It’s clear we need to get our stats down locally and re-double our efforts to protect one another.

“Tier three will be in place from December 2 until December 16 – the first Government review point.

“That means we have just under three weeks to get our rates down before the next review.”

Mrs Kearns had asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior health officials to treat the Melton borough separately in the tiering system.

She added: “As residents will be aware, over the last two weeks I lobbied the Prime Minister and Ministers not to group all Leicestershire districts together, and most definitely not with Leicester city, so I am disappointed with this decision.

“I will work hard to push for us to move to a district level as soon as possible – at the December 16 review point.

“If we can get our rates down by then, I can fight for us and prove that we should be separated at the minimum from Leicester city, but I need everyone to work hard at adhering to the restrictions and to get tested.

“I also hope by December 16 we will have a vaccination programme live in Melton, subject to the vaccine being approved.”

The MP urged residents to get tested if they have symptoms when a new walk-in testing centre opens in the town’s Burton Street car park next week.