Milton Keynes Council extend rapid testing programme to include shopworkers

That pilot has been extended to all MK essential shopworkers who from Monday (7 February) are invited to have a rapid test at their convenience.

With around one in three people who are infected with Covid-19 having no symptoms and potentially spreading the disease without knowing it. The council aims to identify public facing key workers who have COVID-19 without showing symptoms - finding positive cases more quickly to help break chains of transmission and protect vulnerable people.

The pilot had initially been restricted to local workers from within the police, fire services and frontline council staff including those in social care and the council's contracted waste collection partner, Serco.

The facility, based at MK’s Central Library, can comfortably test several hundred people every day. More than 3000 tests have been taken to date, with a number of positive cases found. Those who test positive are told to isolate immediately. Cleaning takes place between every test to keep the testing environment safe.

Shopworkers do not need to make a booking in advance. Test centre opening hours are currently (9.30am – 4.30pm, Monday to Friday). If demand is high, the council may ask people to return another time to avoid queues. Afternoons tend to be quieter.

As well as bringing ID that identifies them as a supermarket employee, people seeking a rapid test should bring a smartphone if they can, on which they’ll need to register and be sent their results. Help is on hand for those who might need it. The test itself is administered very quickly with results usually texted within 45 minutes.