Enhanced community testing will begin in parts of Hulme, Moss Side, Whalley Range and Fallowfield after a small number of cases of a mutated form of COVID-19 were detected in the city.
Four cases in two unconnected households of the E484K mutation – linked to the known Kent strain – have been detected and further investigations are underway to understand if this form of the virus has spread further.
The council is working with Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace to put in place additional testing in the local area to investigate further and to take action to limit the number of people exposed.
From tomorrow (Tues 9 Feb), testing will begin and more than 10,000 tests will be supplied to the community.
Additional testing sites will be set up in the area to enable everyone over the age of 16 who live, works, or studies in in the designated area to get a test as quickly as possible.
In the coming days, volunteers will also begin knocking on people’s doors to offer alternative testing for anyone who can’t get out to a testing site, and testing will also be made available for people who work in the area but don’t necessarily live in the area.
If you live in any of the following post code areas, please check the Council’s website:
M14 4, M14 7, M15 5, M15 6, M16 7, M16 8
www.manchester.gov.uk/covidtesting
If you do live in the boundary area (map in notes to editors section), please attend one of the testing sites (detail below).
These sites are for people who do not have symptoms but live within the testing boundary area.
The additional mobile testing sites will be located at:
Our Lady’s R C Church
Our Ladys Presbytery
Raby St
M16 7JQ
Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurdwara
15 Monton St
M14 4LS
These sites will operate as walk-up centres with no need to book a test in advance. An additional testing site will also be made available within the next few days.
