Sheffield's English Institute of Sport to be turned into new rapid Covid-19 test centre

Essential staff who work with vulnerable people but do not have symptoms of the virus will be invited to the new Covid-19 testing centre based at EISS in Attercliffe which opens next month.

Initially the rapid-flow tests which aim to give a positive or negative coronavirus test result within 30 to 60 minutes without being processed in a lab, will be prioritised for council staff, private providers and third sector employees who are asymptomatic.

All staff who are eligible for the tests will be contacted directly in early February and asked to test twice a week using Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs) – by attending the EISS or accessing testing provided through Sheffield City Council.

The local authority said they are working with the government to make it possible for people to test at home in the future once they have been trained, so that they don’t have to visit the test centre.

But key council workers who are already taking part in other national testing schemes will not need to participate in the new programme.

The rapid-flow tests require the participant to swab their own nose and/or their throat, the swab is then placed in testing liquid and a line appears on the test within 30 minutes if the virus is detected.

It has the advantage of providing people with a test result quickly, however the down side is that the test is less accurate as the LFD test is likely to give a negative result to every five out of 10 people.

Essential workers who are in close contact with vulnerable people may find having the rapid test twice a week helps to pick up infections in staff before they develop symptoms or in people who never develop symptoms for the virus.

However a positive test result for Covid-19 is far more likely to be accurate.

Director of Public Health in Sheffield Greg Fell said: “These developments are good news for us.

"Preparations are moving at pace for the new testing site and for training people to do their own test.

"Both are a very useful addition to all ​of the Covid actions already in place.

“Because these LFD tests are less accurate, anyone who receives a negative result must continue to take strict precautions against spreading the virus, such as keeping their distance from people they do not live with, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as a face covering, ventilating closed spaces where possible and washing their hands regularly.

"All of these things together will make a huge difference in reducing the number of infections in Sheffield.”

Sheffield City Council will also begin to roll out LFD tests to the public in March later this year – where a mobile testing vehicle will travel around communities most affected by coronavirus.

People who don’t have symptoms can get a Covid-19 test, information and advice about the vaccine, along with financial support to self-isolate.

Anyone who tests positive for the virus must self-isolate immediately and stay at home for 10 days, along with the people they live with.

If you develop symptoms, book a test online or call 119.

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