Troops move into to help with rapid testing

Coronavirus rapid testing for people without symptoms has started in Oldham, supported by more than 100 soldiers.

The high profile initiative is primarily aimed for public-facing workers who cannot work from home.

This asymptomatic testing will play an important part in Oldham’s continuing attempts to contain, manage and ultimately defeat Coronavirus.

Military personnel will work alongside public sector staff to test at four sites:

•             Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre, High St, Shaw

•             Failsworth Town Hall - Oldham Road, Failsworth

•             Oldham Community Leisure Centre, Middleton Road, Oldham town centre

•             Uppermill Civic Hall - Lee Street, Uppermill, Saddleworth

The council stress no appointment is necessary, the tests are free and results are back within the hour.

Full details of opening times can be found at: https://www.oldham.gov.uk/keyworkertesting

Councillor Arooj Shah, Oldham Council’s deputy leader, said: “This is another significant piece of the jigsaw to tackle coronavirus in Oldham

“Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, testing has been a key feature of managing and containing the spread of the virus.

"Until this point, testing has mainly been available for people with symptoms.

“Oldham and other Greater Manchester areas is part of the national programme to offer regular rapid testing to people with no symptoms. 

“In Oldham, regular and weekly testing is being offered to people who are at higher risk of coming into contact with the virus (for example due to working in public facing roles or in workplaces with high numbers of staff), as well as settings where the risks of spreading the virus are greatest. 

“Rapid tests use an oral/nasal swab, but do not need to be processed by a specialist laboratory and therefore results can be available within 30 minutes – a great advantage in managing our response to coronavirus.”

The personnel from 1st Battalion the Rifles (1 RIFLES) are currently deployed in Greater Manchester, with over 100 in Oldham, directly supporting the local authority and wider community in tackling the  pandemic.

A military spokesman said the Rifles are operating across the four Lateral Flow rapid-testing sites, with additional teams deployed to support the council in their efforts to stop the spread of the virus.

The spokesman said: “As a Battalion, 1 RIFLES is particularly experienced in providing this type of support and working alongside local communities.

“In the last year alone the Battalion, based in Chepstow, has been deployed throughout the UK to provide support to civil authorities in the fight against coronavirus. 

“This has included the installation of hospital beds at the Dragon’s Heart Hospital in Cardiff, the deployment of ambulance drivers to support the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust (WAST) and the deployment of Covid testing teams throughout Wales, and most recently in Liverpool.”

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