Fylde Council health protection practitioner: 'It's vital not to let Covid guard down'

Richard Hurt, who is working with colleagues to roll out several testing initiatives, said testing is key to Fylde emerging from the pandemic in time for a great British summer.

Richard said: “We have come so far here in Fylde, but people must not become complacent.

“In addition, now people are able to leave their house and socialise more, it is imperative that we keep control of the virus by stopping asymptomatic cases.”

Fylde is continuing with its four mobile testing units in Kirkham, Freckleton, Staining and Esprick, which complement its permanent static site on Fairhaven car park.

In Lancashire, people can get a test if they are concerned about their health but aren’t showing the three classic symptoms of Covid-19, which are a high temperature, a new continuous cough and a change to sense of smell or taste.

To do this, people need to select ‘My local council or health protection team has asked me to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms’. Tests must be booked through the NHS app or website or by phoning 119.

Other symptoms associated with a positive test result include persistent headache and diarrhoea.

In addition to the five sites for symptomatic testing, Fylde Council is ramping up the lateral flow SMART testing capacity for those that need to leave the house to go to work ahead of more businesses opening in the coming months.

Currently key and essential workers, who aren’t showing any sign of illness, can be tested once a week at one of Fylde’s four pop up SMART testing hubs in Kirkham, Lytham and St Annes in order to avoid spreading the virus asymptomatically.

Richard and his team are also working with major employers to train staff to administer and register their own tests on a weekly basis.

Plans are also underway to introduce a mobile SMART testing facility, which will travel around the key locations across the borough.

Fylde Council is working closely with businesses that are preparing to open. Hospitality, non essential retail and close contact personal service companies can get assistance with risk assessments as well as advice on re-opening in a Covid-secure way.

Mobile testing sites for those with symptoms or feel generally unwell are planned for the following locations in April:

William Segar Hodgson Pavilion (Kirkham)

15th – 16th

29th – 30th

Rawstorne Sports Centre, Freckleton

8th – 9th

22nd – 23rd

Elswick Village Hall

7th

14th

21st

28th

Staining Village Hall

5th – 6th

12th – 13th

19th – 20th

26th – 27th

The SMART centres, for people that need to leave home to go to work are located across

the borough here:

Monday – AFC Fylde Education Centre, Mill Farm, Kirkham *

Wednesday – St Cuthbert’s Church Hall, Church Road, Lytham

Thursday – St Anne’s United Reformed Church, St George’s Road, St Anne’s

Friday – Kirkham Community Centre, Mill Street, Kirkham

Swabbing and processing takes place on site and the results are available within half an hour.

* Testing will not take place on Easter Monday, but testing will take place for attendees at

this site on Tuesday April 8.