Test and Trace didn't get much of a mention yesterday

[StealthPolarBear]

Surely while we're doing our bit and staying home, the government needs to sort out a T&T system that's fit for purpose?

How does mass testing work RTB?

Agree with you @StealthPolarBear

Also, excellent post @Alondra.
I have family in South Australia and extended family in NZ. All very happy with how things are going.

We're like you. An island. Unfortunately we failed to use that advantage. And - we're going to continue to import Covid. Our new 'lockdown' will allow inbound travel to continue. Still no checks or proper quarantine...

Your governments have two things our lack. Common sense and foresight.

@Dustballs

How does mass testing work RTB?

It doesn't at the moment.

The last news I saw on this was a couple of weeks ago. The trial which started at the beginning of Sept was only just hitting 250 tests per day but they were apparently hoping to expand it to 1000 per day by the end of the month (October).

In order to be vaguely useful its got to be doing a hell of a lot more than that.

Johnson has said something about it in a think his last three press conferences. It seems to be his big hope. But thats a lot of hope without much to back it up.

I also believe the tests are not as accurate as the current ones.

Johnson talked about using the army to mass test whole towns the other day - the newspapers have reported this will not be compulsory (at this stage). However I can't see how it will be effective if its not. We are back to the problem of people on low incomes/insecure jobs not wanting to risk having to isolate

Theres been some suggestion that schools could be mass tested but you run into ethics and consent issues here too.

Mass testing trial set to start in Liverpool on Friday. The army are being brought in to do it.

This isn't the first trial of this. So this will be interesting to see how effective it is. See:
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/operation-moonshot-salford-trial-refocus-19105241
Has Operation Moonshot already crash landed? Salford is told to 'refocus' regular rapid test trial
The mass testing pilot will now prioritise resources to 'prevent and manage outbreaks'

I watch with interest. But this is where the government are now throwing all their resources and interest and not it seems T & T.

More on this:

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/how-fast-mass-covid-19-19209042
How fast, mass covid-19 testing will work in Liverpool and which groups will be prioritised

The same document states that a number of specific groups of people will be prioritised first for the quickfire testing programme.

These groups would be:

1. Front-line NHS staff (including trainees and trainers), to protect health services and save lives, including non-COVID-19 related conditions where there is already a significant risk of harm.
2. Front-line social care staff, including domiciliary care and affiliated visiting professionals
3. Emergency service staff
4. Education staff at schools, colleges and higher education institutions
5. University students
6. Key workers, to maintain essential services, in particular prison staff
7. School pupils
8. Workers in hospitality/leisure/at-risk sectors
9. Contacts of those identified by the NHS Test and Trace system

Yes I’m liverpool and our achool has signed up to covid study

I’ve refused permission have had mostcpqrehts thankfully

Tests every 6 weeks?! No thanks

Red toothbrush

So by Liverpool volunteering from now to Xmas for tests our cases will go sky high - more tests more cases so no one will be having any uplifting of restrictions in our area!

I do get it but by doing this we’ve wiped floor with any kind of normality fiercest of the year

For rest

Ginogelli, i dont think so tbh.

The number of cases in Liverpool has dropped significantly but the % of tests that come back positive has also dropped.

And this is something that PHE will be looking at.

WHO say that a positivity rate below 5% is essential to manage the virus. Liverpool is currently running at just over 14%. But thats dropped from 23% a few weeks back. Which i suspect was the highest anywhere in the country.

If they can mass test then they can identify more people with the virus and get it under control. And that means going forward they can get the positivity rate down even more.

Having said that, you need a relatively high level of participation in a mass testing scheme, and if I'd have chosen where to trial this, i dont think Liverpool would have been near the top of my list for ideal trial area on this.

Yes we dropped loads but look at Preston

Preston was sky high and had pop up units everywhere as a result then as consequence of that got some of the worst restrictions! Same happening now with Blackburn

Liverpool is high still in terms of hospilisatiojd

We are only in the mess because NW unlocked too soon

If they start tests Friday it’ll be weeks before average joe gets them

No way will our shops open 2nd Nov as our results will only go up and up 😩

West lancs etc now higher than Liverpool and loads commute in from here and other areas

Pop up units all over place will give huge benefit long term but no way before Xmas 😳