Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Boston crew, from left Firefighter Grey, Firefighter Hull, Crew Manager Broome and Firefighter Holman
Thousands of residents from the Borough of Boston have taken a symptom-free coronavirus test.
On Monday 18th January, we opened two new targeted community testing centres for people without symptoms as part of Boston’s fight against COVID-19 with support from our partner agencies.
This new type of testing helps identify those who unknowingly have the virus. The symptom-free tests will help provide a more accurate picture of cases in Boston and will help prevent people from spreading it to their loved ones and people they work with.
In the first seven days of testing, 3,641 residents took the new, quick symptom-free test in Boston and received their result within an hour. Of those tested 36 residents were found to have tested positive for coronavirus and were immediately advised to self-isolate, notify Test and Trace and book a PCR test through the NHS’s symptomatic booking process by calling 119 or visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test to help prevent the spread across Boston and surrounding areas.
Leader of Boston Borough Council, Cllr Paul Skinner, said: “I am pleased to hear so many of Boston’s residents have taken up the opportunity of a symptom-free test. Boston was delighted to be able to launch targeted community testing for people without symptoms, and this type of testing is already helping to stop the spread of this deadly virus here in our town.
“Thank you to the whole team behind this programme for their continued support in running the testing centres – the guidance and support they are providing those arriving for tests is unsurpassed. I’d urge everyone to book a test and play your part in slowing the spread of this virus.”
If you take a symptom-free test and the result shows positive, please book a PCR test through the NHS’s symptomatic booking process by calling 119 or visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test and update your Test and Trace app immediately.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue fire fighter, Nicky Hull said: “At the end of our shift on Thursday myself and my crew attended the Peter Paine site for a community ‘rapid’ test, not only do we want to make sure that we are helping keep our community safe we also want to be making sure when we go home that we are keeping our loved ones safe too by preventing the spread of the virus.
“I urge all residents who are eligible to pop along to one of the sites for a test. It really is quick and easy. Do your bit and help get this community back to how it used to be!.”
