Covid: Kirklees surge testing begins after Indian variant found

Council and NHS staff have started going door-to-door in parts of Dewsbury offering coronavirus tests after the so-called Indian variant was found.

All people aged over 11 in Savile Town and Thornhill Lees are being asked to take PCR tests and all adults offered vaccinations, Kirklees Council said.

In the week to 21 May there were 107 cases of coronavirus per 100,000 people - a rise of 51% on the week before.

Additional testing centres are also being rolled out from Wednesday.

The increased testing for people living or working in Kirklees is being done in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus, the council said.

"With Kirklees' infection rate one of the highest in the country, and cases of the Indian variant detected locally, a programme of increased testing in the borough's areas with highest infection rates is under way," the council said.

All residents in Savile Town and Thornhill Lees over the age of 18 are also being offered an appointment for their Covid-19 vaccine first dose if they have not already taken it.

Rachel Spencer-Henshall, strategic director for public health at Kirklees Council, thanked people for "playing their part" but said a "small number of cases" of the new variant first identified in India had been found.

She said: "Please be reassured that this variant does not appear to lead to more serious illness.

"We're focusing extra support in areas with the highest rates of infection, including the offer of vaccine appointments.

"Thankfully, we're not seeing a major impact on the number of hospital admissions related to Covid-19 in Kirklees and in the last week we had no deaths linked to the virus."

Ebrahim Kara, of Savile Town, said he thought it was a good thing the testing was being carried out.

"It shows there's a concern and things are being done about it," the 39-year-old said.

He said he had not been surprised at the rise in cases.

"I was being cautious overall anyway, I had a feeling with what was happening in India this was inevitable.

"I believe this is like the normality and it is something we are going to have to live with," he said.

Kaushar Tau, a member of a local mosque and former chair of the Kirklees Interfaith Council, said he hoped people would get tested.

"I urge people to take the test, because it helps us to really look at the variant and also to keep everyone safe," the 62-year-old said.

Mr Tau also said it was important people continued to get their jab.

"There is a growing number of people taking up the vaccine, initially there was a concern, but now people are getting to know there is a need for us to take the vaccine.

"With the Indian variant it is so important we take this seriously, to keep ourselves safe and others safe as well."

New testing units have been set up at the following places:

Anyone who lives or works in Kirklees can also get an asymptomatic PCR test at these sites:

The district's Outbreak Control Board, a cross-party group of leading councillors from Kirklees Council and the borough's three MPs, said Kirklees continued to follow the roadmap out of restrictions alongside the rest of England.

Its statement added: "Given our high infection rates, we are urging residents and visitors to be cautious, but there are no restrictions to travel into and out of Kirklees. Pubs and restaurants remain open for business."

The authority said with rising infection rates everyone in Kirklees had a part to play in keeping themselves and their community safe.

"That's why we're urging people to get tested, stick to the guidance and, above all, get vaccinated when you are eligible," it added.

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