By Leah Conway –
After news that the Government advised people to not travel in and out of Kirklees, there will be increased testing in Kirklees starting from today, 26 May.
It will be part of a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and give extra support to the borough, which has one of the highest infection rates in the country and has had the Indian variant detected locally.
Anyone who lives or works in Kirklees is now able to get an asymptomatic PCR test.
Door-knocking and Additional vaccines
Council and NHS staff will begin door-knocking in Savile Town and Thornhill Lees from the 26 May. All residents over the age of 11 will be asked to take a PCR COVID-19 test.
As well as additional testing, all residents over the age of 18 in those two areas will be offered an appointment for their first dose of the COVID-9 vaccine if they have not already taken it.
More Mobile Testing Units
Another mobile testing unit has also been set up in Savile Town at Taleem Training and community Centre, Orchard Street.
Anyone who lives nearby or is a regular visitor can visit the mobile centre to take a PCR test.
It will be open 10am-4pm from today – 26 May.
Honely and Batley will also receive additional testing units from 26 May onwards. All residents aged 11 and over are urged to get s PCR test.
- Honley Site – Honley Community Centre, Stony Lane, Honley, Holmfirth, HD9 6DY. Open 10am-4pm from 26 May 2021.
- Batley Site – Wards Hill Car Park, Wellington Street, Batley, WF17 5HR. Open 10am-4pm from 26 May 2021.
Additional testing sites
Anyone who lives or works in Kirklees can also get an asymptomatic PCR test at the below testing sites between 8am-8pm:
- Dewsbury: Dewsbury Railway Station Car Park, Dewsbury, WF13 1HF
- Huddersfield: Percy Shaw House, also known as Queen Street Studios, Queen Street South, Huddersfield, HD1 3BB.
- Ravensthorpe: Ravensthorpe KNH (Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing), Queen Street, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury WF13 3BT
Travel Restrictions in Kirklees
So far, there are no restrictions on travel into and out of Kirklees and more door-knocking will be introduced if needed.
PCR test with symptoms
All residents without symptoms are encouraged to attend the test centres listed above. However, if you have symptoms, the process is slightly different. Find out more on the council’s website.
Vaccination update
So far, the vaccine update in Kirklees has been a positive response. More than 225,000 local people have had their first dose and 139,000 of those have received their second.
Anyone ages 32 and over in Kirklees can book their vaccination now.
“Quick, easy, painless and you’ll be playing a vital role.”
Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Strategic Director for Public Health at Kirklees Council, said: “We’re at a really critical stage of the pandemic. Our infection rate in Kirklees has been increasing in the last few weeks and we’re doing everything possible to learn more about the spread of the virus locally and to prevent it.
“We have also had a small number of cases of the new variant, first detected in India, confirmed in the borough, which we know spreads more easily. Please be reassured that this variant does not appear to lead to more serious illness.
“Following the Government’s announcement last week, we’ve quickly put together our increased testing plan. This increased offer will help us to identify and isolate any further cases of this new variant we might have and can support us in bringing our rate down.
“We’re focussing extra support in areas with the highest rates of infection, including the offer of vaccine appointments. But we are urging anyone who lives or works in Kirklees to play their part and visit one of our PCR testing centres and get tested.
“It’s quick, easy, painless and you’ll be playing a vital role in helping us to understand more about the way the virus is spreading in Kirklees. We are using PCR tests so that positive results can be sent to specialist laboratories where they can identify variants of concern, and see where they have spread.
“Thankfully, we’re not seeing a major impact on the number of hospital admissions related to Covid-19 in Kirklees and in the last, week we had no deaths linked to the virus. Our main objective is to keep it that way and bringing our infection rate down is how we do this.
“I’m also urging everyone in Kirklees to be extra cautious and stick to all the public guidance.
“Every vaccination matters. We’re working with Government to increase our vaccine offer. The more people that take it, the safer we all are and the sooner we can get back to normality. You’ll be contacted when it’s your turn and anyone aged 32 and over in Kirklees can book their vaccination now.”
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