New SMART tests coming for workers in public-facing jobs

The council is urging people such as shop and supermarket workers, taxi drivers and refuse and recycling collectors who don’t have symptoms to get tested.

Two rapid Covid-19 lateral flow test sites, run by Pendle Leisure Trust, have opened at:

Pendle Leisure Centre, Crown Way, Colne, BB8 9NP

West Craven Sports Centre, Kellbrook Road, Barnoldswick.BB18 5TB.

Tests are available Monday to Friday, 5 to 8pm, and can be booked via www.pendleleisuretrust.co.uk/smart-test

Coun. Mohammed Iqbal MBE, leader of Pendle Council, said: “The scheme is an extension of the Lateral Flow Tests which have been available to larger workplaces since December.

“The tests will be rolled out to more people but initially we’re reaching out to these groups. If you come into contact with customers in your day-to-day work, please book yourself in for a SMART test and get tested regularly.

“By testing those who have face to face contact with customers, it means we can more effectively stop the spread of Covid-19 in Pendle. Anyone who tests positive must self-isolate for 10 days and follow Government guidelines.”

The SMART tests are free and should be repeated every three to five days. As they don’t need to be sent to a laboratory for analysis, results are available quicker – usually in 30 minutes.

All Pendle Leisure Trust staff operating the SMART test centres have been fully trained.

Coun. David Whipp, deputy leader of Pendle Council, added: “Across the county, this type of testing has found one or two people in every hundred with the virus. By getting these people to self-isolate, transmission of the virus is disrupted.”

Anyone who tests positive and needs to self-isolate may be entitled to a one-off Test and Trace Support Payment. Those eligible will be on a lower income and can’t work from home.

More information is available on Pendle Council’s website - www.pendle.gov.uk/selfisolationscheme

And if anyone self-isolating doesn’t have friends or family nearby, Pendle Community Support Hub can help with things like where to get food, collecting prescriptions and dealing with social isolation – www.pendle.gov.uk/communitysupporthub

For more information about the SMART tests and to book an appointment, visit - www.pendleleisuretrust.co.uk/smart-test