Everyone aged between 12 and 30 living or working in Cumbria is being asked to take a COVID-19 test, even if they do not have symptoms.
Cumbria County Council and NHS Test and Trace have made the request because new COVID-19 infections are rising fastest among this age group.
By getting as many people as possible tested, those who are infectious can be identified and asked to self-isolate to help stop infection spreading.
Tests will be conducted using PCR test kits, not the rapid result Lateral Flow Device tests that are used for regular weekly testing.
People not at school can attend any of Cumbria’s testing sites between 8am and 8pm from tomorrow
You do not need to book your test, simply walk in and you will be tested.
Parents/carers of school age children will be informed of testing arrangements by their child’s school.
If you cannot attend a test site you can get a test kit delivered to your home via www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.
Choose the “I have been advised to get a test by local Public Health officials” option.
Test site locations
- Carlisle RTS, Carlisle Lake District Airport, Irvington, Carlisle, CA6 4NW
- Carlisle Cecil Street LTS, Cecil Street Car Park, Carlisle, CA1 1NX
- Penrith Sandgate Car Park LTS, Penrith Sandgate Car Park, 32 Albert Street, Penrith, CA11 7XA
- West Cumbria Allerdale House LTS, Allerdale House Overflow Car Park, Workington, CA14 9SA
- Barrow-in-Furness Town Hall LTS, Barrow Town Hall Courtyard, Cornwallis Street, Barrow, LA14 2LG
- Copeland Castle Meadows LTS, Castle Meadows Car Park, Whitehaven, CA28 7RG
- Kendal County Hall LTS, Kendal County Hall Car Park, Busher Walk, Kendal, LA9 4RQ
If you test positive, develop any symptoms, or are contact traced following contact with someone who tests positive, you should self-isolate immediately.
Cumbria’s director of public health, Colin Cox, said: “Infections are spiking in Cumbria and while they are still lower than our neighbouring counties, without action we can expect many more people to become ill.
“Infections are rising fastest among young people. That’s why it is critical everyone aged 12-30 in Cumbria take a PCR test this week – regardless of whether they have symptoms or not.
“Getting as many people tested as possible will help us find those people are infectious but don’t know it, this is an important way we can slow the spread.
“I know it’s an inconvenience to do this, but it’s a simple process and as we’ve seen this week with the Prime Minister’s announcement, if we don’t get the virus back under control we can expect restrictions to remain in place which is something none of us want.”
Infections have risen from 35 cases per week at the end of May to 250 per week now, and concerns have grown that many Cumbrians remain vulnerable to the virus.
Nearly 150,000 Cumbrians have not been vaccinated yet and around 85,000 people have so far only received one dose of the vaccine. People who have only had one dose have significantly less protection from the new Delta variant of the virus which is now circulating.
