A small number of cases of the variant first identified in India, have been found in the Kingsbrook area of Aylesbury. The people involved have self-isolated and followed all of the recommended guidance.
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Buckinghamshire Council is working with Public Health England to monitor COVID-19 across the County. Following this surveillance activity, a small number of cases of the variant first identified in India, have been found in the Kingsbrook area of Aylesbury. The people involved have self-isolated and followed all of the recommended guidance. Buckinghamshire Council are asking all Kingsbrook residents, businesses and visitors in the HP22 7AA to These PCR tests should be done even if people are not showing any symptoms, they have previously had COVID-19, or they have had a COVID-19 vaccination. There are a number of Mobile Testing Units (MTUs) where people in the area can get the COVID-19 PCR test; they do not need an appointment – they can just turn up at:
Unit 3, Vale Retail Park, 658 Vale Park Drive, Aylesbury HP20 1DH: Thursday 13 May/ Friday 14 May/Saturday 15 May from 8am to 6.30pm - you can attend this site to collect a test or drop off a completed one. |
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Buckinghamshire Council will also have a group of official volunteers knocking on doors in the Kingsbrook area on Saturday 15 May between 9.15am and 4.30pm to deliver tests to people who have not been able to attend a MTU. Please note they will have official identification and do not need to enter your home, ask for money, or ask for any personal details. Jane O’Grady Director of Public Health for Buckinghamshire said: “The UK has one of the best genome surveillance systems in the world which has allowed us to detect the variant first identified in India, here in the Kingsbrook, Aylesbury area. I urge everyone to come forward for a test to help us to monitor the virus in our communities and to help suppress and control the spread of this variant. The most important thing is that people continue to follow the guidance that is in place – wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, keep your distance, cover your face. Please remember meeting outdoors is safer than indoors ; if you are meeting indoors make sure spaces are well ventilated. If you test positive, you must isolate to stop the spread of the virus.” |
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Full list of postcodes being tested: HP22 7AA HP22 7AB HP22 7AD HP22 7AE HP22 7AF HP22 7AG HP22 7AH HP22 7AJ HP22 7AL HP22 7AN HP22 7AP HP22 7AQ HP22 7AR HP22 7AS HP22 7AT HPSS 7AU HP22 7AW HP22 7AX HP22 7AY HP22 7AZ HP22 7BA HP22 7BB HP22 7BD HP22 7BE HP22 7BF HP22 7BG HP22 7BH HP22 7BJ HP22 7BL HP22 7BN HP22 7BP HP22 5AR If someone is unable to attend any of the test centres, can they order a PCR test online? Yes, they can, by visiting www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/surge-testing/ and completing the form. Buckinghamshire Council will then send a test out to their home address. If people live in the area – can they still go to work, send their children to school, go about their usual business - while the testing is taking place? Yes, they can, but they must ensure they are following the current COVID guidelines. What should people do if they have symptoms of COVID-19? If they do have symptoms, they must not attend any of the Mobile Testing Units. If they want to take a test they will need to visit the Government website and order one to be delivered to their home: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119. Should people be tested if they have had a COVID-19 vaccination or have had COVID-19? Even if they have been vaccinated or previously had COVID, they should get PCR tested. We know that no vaccine is 100% effective and that even after infection by the virus, some people get re-infected. This is particularly important as we need to find out whether any of the new variants are better at escaping the immunity given by vaccines or previous infections. What do we do with the test results? Anyone who has a positive test will be notified in two or three days by text, email or phone call (whichever details you gave when you took the test). All positive tests will be sequenced to identify any further spread of the new variant first discovered in India. This will enable a better understanding and identify if there are any more cases of this variant in the area. If someone tests positive, will they need to self-isolate and for how long? Yes, they will need to self-isolate for a period of 10 days from the date of their positive test. Do children need to be tested? Yes, we are asking that all children who are 11 years or older are also tested. Children under the age of 16 will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. If someone already does ‘rapid testing’, ‘workplace testing’, ‘lateral flow testing’, ‘school based testing’ do they need to get tested? Yes, this is a PCR test which if it is positive is then genetically sequenced to see if the Variant is present. The tests used for ‘rapid testing’, ‘workplace testing’ ‘lateral flow testing’ and ‘school based testing’ are different and cannot be genetically sequenced to see what variant is present. If people living in the area have any further queries, they should call Buckinghamshire Council on 0300 131 6000 between 8.45am and 5.30pm on Thursday; 8.45am to 5pm on Friday; and 10am to 4pm on Saturday or visit www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/surge-testing |
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