I'm in one of the doom postcodes, what do I do?

[MonaLisaDoesntSmile]

Sorry but I am a bit cofused- the news I read said to get tested if I live in one of the doomsday postcodes with the SA variant regardless if we have symptoms or not, but the website says not to book if no symptons? My husband is convinced someone will be coming to our house to test us or that there will be a letter?
Apologies again if it's been mentioned, but I have been trying to find intel online already and only coming across contraditory or outdated information.

I believe they are posting home tests and setting up mobile test sites - I don’t think you need to book through the regular channels.

I’m not in one of the areas but in the same county and our County Council posted info on Facebook. Could you try there. The info basically says kits will be dropped off at your door for each member of your household. Sorry this is happening to your area OP

news.surreycc.gov.uk/2021/02/01/statement-surge-testing-operation-launched/

Here you go.

This is Surrey but I’m sure the approach will be similar in all postcodes.

Scary, hope you're alright op

Crikey I didn't know this!

I live in the town next door to one of those postcodes and my colleague lives in it. They haven't really made it clear how it will work. Apart from door to door testing will start tomorrow. So no idea whether they will be swabbing on the door steps or dropping off home testing kits. Guess we'll find out tomorrow!

My LA isso rubbish they recently sent us a 2 month old letter about covid, no news update on their site nor social media!

Thanks for the links, I will be on a lookout for news. I hope for tests sent in post or somewhere local we can pop in...

On the radio earlier it said they will be door knocking but don't know how that logistically would work.

Apparently in one of them near me they are setting up a mobile testing unit in the exact locality the case was and putting tests through doors.

But I don't get the postcode thing. I know someone who also lives in that postcode but quite a way from where the case was and would have no reason to go there. Together surely people who live nearer are crossing to other postcodes for shopping / work etc....I don't really get it.

@HotCupOfNo

Scary, hope you're alright op

Yes, thank you, but not gonna lie it's quite scary!

Will keep kids in, no nursery this week, wish me luck, hehe.

The door to door thing scares me as it opens door to scammers, and out mobile testing unit... is in another postcode, really far away from us, so won't be travelling an hour on foot just to get there.

I’m in one of the postcodes too (although I’m 0.3 mile from the area they are testing in).
Our council website says that there is a temporary testing centre being set up in a local park that you have to book which was set up today. Later in the week they will be delivering tests to households (and collecting them directly too).
No message that you have to say isolate.

The case in our area was from late December...

We're in the next postcode along from you Ribbons so I had a look to see how they were doing it. My first concern was potential scammers targeting older people, I really hope there will be some better communication, we know not everyone will be able to check the internet.

It was on the briefing today that they said stay at home but it really wasn't like in shouty capitals and underlined type thing. I would say just be really careful and keep yourself safe.

Door knocking! 🤣 As if!!!

I suspect they'll end up with a lot of doors slammed in their faces!

It said on Sky News that they're going to post a test(s) though your door and all over 18's are to do it, symptomatic or not.

This is my council's response. Found via Facebook, not their website, thank you for PP's tip off!

Doomsday by postcode, so British 🤣

Meanwhile, down the road at Heathrow...

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Who else is worried about all the elderly people in those postcodes? Particularly the ones without family. They must be terrified

OP I recommend you find today's Covid briefing from Downing Street on iPlayer and watch that (was on at 5pm). One of the scientists explained exactly how this would work. From memory:

• People will go door to door dropping off kits (they will have ID) and will then collect them from you (not sure if they wait while you do it, or come back later)
• there will also be mobile testing stations.

So this is testing in addition to the normal testing for people with symptoms. They want everyone to be tested, so they can find every single case. They will ALL be genomically tested to see if it is the SA strain (they normally test 5-10% of positive swabs).

Don't know how they're going to do that if the don't test children, though. Though I suppose if one of the parents tests positive, the child will have to isolate anyway.

@CostaDelCovid

Door knocking! 🤣 As if!!!

Some councils have been door knocking with tests for months.

If you want to go to a mobile testing unit you need to book online www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test - say it's a community test

I'm in the doomsday postcode too! I'm doing nothing until I hear differently. I test regularly anyway as I'm health care worker, my kids are in school, we still need food from shops and my parents still need support. Nothing changes for me. I think the extra testing is a good thing though. We pick up so many asymptomatic positives through regular testing so blanket testings will surely help pick up and isolate more of these so reducing the spread.

The way it works here is the tests are dropped off and collected 30 minutes later. No one has ever slammed a door in my face.