Covid Testing

Confidence Boosting Covid-19 Testing in the Rural Community

Can you pass this section (and the appropriate attachments) to other groups in your parish such as the village hall, the PCC and other faith groups

Putting up the posters on Notice Boards and on your website will be very helpful too
For some time now COVID-19 self‑test kits have been available free of charge in Norfolk from pharmacies, libraries, and by ordering online.  These are for individuals to use at home and for small businesses.  Self-tests, while not absolutely definitive, should give individuals a degree of confidence they are COVID-19 free.

However, many clerks and residents of our rural parishes are far from these sources of supply.  

So, starting on Monday September 20th two changes are coming. The first is Mobile Library Collect. An additional source of tests will become available via the Mobile Libraries which traverse, indeed criss-cross, the rural parishes of Norfolk visiting each one at least once per month. Simply, turn up and collect self-test kits.

The second is Neighbourhood Collect. Staff of local councils and group leaders can get up to 25 boxes* of COVID-19 self-test kits from libraries and mobile libraries to give out either to those who have less access to testing in their local council area, or to their group members to help give assurance they are meeting again in a safer environment. Please note: details will be collected such as, name, local council, group name, postcode, etc, and the tests must be stored between 2-30 degrees Celsius.

These changes are explained in the attached PowerPoint presentation, posters and stickers/logos.

Hopefully, these two new schemes will give added help to those on the wrong side of the digital divide and to those who are too frightened to come out and resume a more normal life in the community.

This programme is completely free to use across Norfolk, so make sure you are making the most of it.

Also, there is a mobile service potentially available that could bring an observed self-testing service to your parish for special, large events or where large numbers of hard-to-reach people are likely to gather such as community kitchens, lunches, markets, and the like. You can help by passing on information about such events or venues (or any other queries) to Aiden Skeels at c19testing@norfolk.gov.uk

* There are 7 tests per box designed to last 3.5 weeks assuming twice weekly testing.Covi