Cheshire West and Chester Council are gearing up to phase in lateral flow testing for priority groups in the borough.

In yesterday's Covid-19 Outbreak Board meeting, Council Director of Public Health, Ian Ashworth, pointed out that Cheshire West sits within one of the areas chosen to trial lateral flow testing of the type we have seen rolled out in Liverpool.

Although it would not be on the same population-wide scale, the Council are now hoping to introduce a similar asymptomatic testing system for vulnerable groups.

"It's important that we don't just jump into delivering this, and that we do it in the right way. So, we're choosing some of the priority groups that can make the biggest difference.

"For example, we're reviewing care home visiting and the possibility of social care [workers] using these tests.

"It's a massive logistical exercise, so we're working closely with our Health partners and across the Council to think about how we can roll it out."

Meanwhile, there have been no recent updates from the Council on the fate of Frodsham's walk-in testing site, which was due to open behind Frodsham Leisure Centre at the beginning of the month.

"Two weeks to turn this around"

During the meeting, the Council also urged the borough's residents to continue to observe infection prevention measures to help curb the spread of coronavirus before the end of lockdown.

As of Saturday 14th November, Cheshire West has a coronavirus rate of 303 cases per 100,000 of the population, making it one of the most seriously affected local authorities in Cheshire and Merseyside.

The Countess of Chester Hospital currently has 125 patients – nearly 20 per cent of their bed base – who have tested positive for Covid-19, several of whom are being treated in the ITU.

Around 150 hospital staff members are currently self isolating for Covid-related reasons, and the hospital has taken the decision to postpone some elective procedures.

Mr Ashworth said: "We are seeing challenges within our hospital and care home settings."

"Everybody's got one eye on the festive season coming up; everybody asks what will happen after the lockdown.

"Essentially, we have two weeks to turn this around, and we need to do everything to not get complacent."