Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage, has welcomed news that next week the Government will roll-out two new rapid coronavirus tests ahead of winter.
Caroline has spoken with several constituents about the upcoming winter pressures, including the test and trace system and the extensive winter flu vaccine programme.
Today, the Department for Health and Social Care has announced that millions of ground-breaking rapid tests will be rolled out to hospitals, care homes and labs across the UK to increase testing capacity ahead of winter. The tests will enable clinicians and NHS Test and Trace to quickly advise on the best course of action to stop the spread of the virus.
Two new tests – both able to detect the virus in just 90 minutes – will be made available. The two tests will be able to detect both COVID-19 and other winter viruses such as flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The tests do not require a trained health professional to operate them, meaning they can be rolled out in more non-clinical settings.
This will help to further strengthen the coronavirus response this winter, arming both clinicians and NHS Test and Trace with the ability to distinguish between COVID-19 cases, which have specific self-isolation requirements, and other winter viruses.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said:
“We’re using the most innovative technologies available to tackle coronavirus. Millions of new rapid coronavirus tests will provide on-the-spot results in under 90 minutes, helping us to break chains of transmission quickly.
The fact these tests can detect flu as well as COVID-19 will be hugely beneficial as we head into winter, so patients can follow the right advice to protect themselves and others.
I am hugely grateful for the excellent work done by DnaNudge and Oxford Nanopore to push forward these life-saving innovations in coronavirus testing.”
Caroline said:
“This is a fantastic development – understandably many people will be concerned about the upcoming winter, and I know from conversations I’ve had with local constituents just how reassuring today’s announcement will be.”