West Lancashire to receive enhanced support for COVID-19 testing and vaccination

A package of enhanced support, including increased testing and vaccinations, is being rolled out in Lancashire as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise quickly in some parts of the County. This extra support will therefore be available in West Lancashire.

The Borough will now receive enhanced support from central government to ramp up testing and to facilitate higher vaccination uptake. This means:

• Everyone in West Lancashire, including children, are now being encouraged to take a COVID-19 test, whether they are showing symptoms or not to help identify variant of concern (VOC) cases and their spread.
• Residents without symptoms will be able to pick up a free PCR kit from a designated collection point or have a kit sent to their home. (More details to follow.)
• Residents will be asked to be cautious and think about minimising travel where possible.
• Vaccination centres will be located in more convenient places for the community.
• People will also be urged to make use of free twice-weekly rapid tests, commonly known as lateral flow devices, alongside the PCR test as part of the enhanced testing support.

Councillor Ian Moran, Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council, said: “I know residents have worked incredibly hard to keep case numbers down and this has seen our infection rates remain low. But we are on the border of areas that are struggling to contain the Delta variant, so we must do all we can to continue to keep our communities safe.

 

“The most important things we can do are to get vaccinated, get tested more often and keep following the hands, face, space, fresh air guidance.

 

“Please shop and eat and drink locally and continue to follow the guidelines and keep yourself, your loved ones and staff as safe as possible.”

Further details about the new enhanced support measures will be available as they are announced on the Council’s website and social media channels.

Information and advice:

If you have symptoms, self-isolate and get a test online via the official gov.uk website.

If you have a positive test, you should immediately self-isolate and if eligible, apply for financial support to do so.

If you do not have symptoms, please also get a test online via the West Lancashire Borough Council website.

For vaccinations, if you are over 18 and meet the eligibility criteria, you do not need to wait to be contacted. Book your vaccination online via the National Booking System or by calling 119.

If you did not book when you were contacted, you are still eligible and can book your appointments anytime.