More than half of the population took COVID-19 tests after residents in an area of south west Birmingham who were asked to participate in targeted testing test for South African variant cases.
Birmingham’s Public Health chief thanked all who had taken tests and helped with the effort as he updated a public meeting on Thursday (18th February) evening.
The testing, part of national Operation Eagle, was put in place after a small number of South African variant COVID-19 cases were identified within the same extended family, with no link to travel to identify their origin.
The variant originating in South Africa has been identified as a Variant of Concern (VOC) by the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG).
Residents and workers in a zone covering all of Frankley Great Park ward, as well as a small part of Northfield ward, were asked to take voluntary tests at designated sites to help city public health officials identify any further cases of the variant.
At a public meeting on Thursday (18th February) evening chaired by Cllr Simon Morrall (Frankley Great Park), Birmingham City Council’s Director of Public Health Dr Justin Varney confirmed that around 12,500 people had taken the tests over a two week period ending on Wednesday 17th February.
3,700 people used mobile testing sites at Longbridge and Empire Cinema, Great Park; around 2000 collected and dropped home test kits at the Hollymoor Centre; 2800 people were tested through collect and drop at schools and workplaces in the area; and 3600 people used test kits delivered and collected to the door by Birmingham City Council.
Dr Varney admitted the uptake was significantly higher than he had anticipated and thanked local residents, volunteers, businesses and politicians for their help.
Cllr Simon Morrall, who chaired the public meeting, said: “I cannot tell you how immensely proud I am of everyone for the way they have responded. I want to say a huge thank you and congratulations to people for stepping up to the plate.”
Birmingham City Council cabinet member for Health and Social Care Cllr Paulette Hamilton also praised local people for their efforts. She said: “The way Frankley and Northfield have come together has been fantastic. Thank you all for following the rules, maintaining social distancing. We are wehere we are now because of what the community has done.”
Dr Varney said that the experience will be used as an example to model the response to any further VOC incidences in the Birmingham City Council area.
A full report on the testing will be delivered to the Local Covid Outbreak Engagement Board at 2pm on 24th February Watch online
Frankley Great Park now registers the highest case rate in the city due to the increased testing but Dr Varney said that figures could be expected to drop dramatically in the area within two weeks after those testing positive had self-isolated.
Positive tests from the zone go on to secondary testing to identify the variant. Results on any incidence of the South African variant will be reported by the government’s Department of Health and Social Care.