STAFF from Burton Albion Football Club and Burton Albion Community Trust have completed training to permit in-house lateral flow testing at the Pirelli Stadium.
Staffordshire is one of 66 local authorities in the first phase of roll out for business led lateral flow tests to take place.
The test is used for asymptomatic people and aims to reduce the ‘R’ rate by identifying those that are asymptomatic, but also potential infectious individuals to help break the chain of transmission.
It should also give confidence to the community & staff that a safe return to normality is on the horizon and we can be safe within the workplaces.
It is however an opportunity to find more cases and isolate contacts more quickly.
The process for testing is:
- Swab test
- Test can be completed on site – no laboratory required
- Speed
- Results available 20-30 minutes
- Negatives can have some piece of mind
- For positives contact tracing can begin immediately
Fleur Robinson, Commercial Director, said: “we’re grateful to Staffordshire County Council for enabling us to deliver this service to our workforce.
“It will help us to protect our staff and their families, as well as our business.
“It’s another great example of the football club and community trust working in collaboration - we’d also like to say a big thank you to all the staff that have become part of the testing team, and for helping to get the facility and testing up and running straight away.”
Dr Johnny McMahon, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing said:
“It’s fantastic to see Burton Albion Football Club and the Burton Albion Community Trust joining Staffordshire's community testing programme.
"Businesses and community groups of all sizes have a vital role to play in protecting their employees and the wider community.
"1 in 3 people do no not display any Covid-19 symptoms, regular testing identifies asymptomatic cases which helps avoid large outbreaks and all the disruption that can bring.
“Testing stops people who do not think they have the virus unwittingly spreading it to work colleagues and potentially returning home and putting their own household members at risk.
“We are looking for more Staffordshire businesses to come forward - getting involved is a straight forward process with lots of support available along the way."
Any other interested businesses who would like to join the testing programme are asked to contact LFTEnquiries@staffordshire.gov.uk or submit an expression of interest at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/coronavirus