Dover MP Natalie Elphicke, pictured above, has called on residents to take part in community testing and save lives.
After attending a test, proving negative, at the Dover Discovery Centre shortly after it opened, Mrs Elphicke is strongly encouraging everyone who can book and attend the test to get one done.
Non-symptom tests are fast and simple tests for Covid-19 that are available to people who do not have any symptoms. These are rapid tests designed to identify more, but not all, cases of the virus. So even if a test returns a negative result, it is vital that everyone continues to follow the current restrictions and social distancing rules.
The detection of these cases allows those who test positive to self-isolate and break the chain of transmission. It also gives our public health team vital information about the extent of transmission and incidence of the virus in our community.
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The provision of rapid turnaround testing is important, alongside the lockdown restrictions and the roll out of the vaccination programme to those most at risk in our community.
Dover and Deal MP, Natalie Elphicke, says: “The Prime Minister has made clear that, as a country, we are tackling the virus with everything we’ve got. The combination of lockdown restrictions, mass testing, and vaccination provides us with an opportunity to make real progress, and to look forward with hope to a better spring and summer.
“We must all be as vigilant as ever to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the terrible virus, and we must take every last precaution in order to halt its spread.
Natalie Elphicke MP
“I would encourage everybody who can do so to book a test. Anyone experiencing symptoms associated with the coronavirus can continue to book for a full test in the usual way. Additionally, rapid turnaround tests for those without symptoms are now also available for our community, organised by the armed forces. This asymptomatic testing is an opportunity to help identify pockets of infection, drive down transmission rates and protect those around us.”