Thousands of COVID-19 cases have been detected by the Asymptomatic Testing Programme, a Scottish Government evaluation has found.
More than 6.6 million LFD results reported by Scots were considered in the Asymptomatic Testing Programme Evaluation which looked at nine testing pathways including community testing, early learning and childcare settings and the Health and Social Care workforce.
The number of positive cases identified by LFD testing, then confirmed by PCR, was 7,271, according to the study which looked at the period between November last year and June 2021.
The data shows widespread uptake of testing among the general population through the pathways, including the universal offer.
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Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Scotland’s Testing Strategy is a key part of our approach to controlling the Covid-19 pandemic and minimising transmission.
“This report shows the importance of regular asymptomatic testing in capturing cases of the Covid-19 often before symptoms emerge. These would otherwise go undetected or be found much later in the virus progression, once symptoms had developed.
“As we go into this holiday period, frequent testing with lateral flow devices is essential and I would urge people to make sure they report the results – whether positive, negative or void – which only takes a few minutes.
“Everyone should do a lateral flow test before mixing with people from other households. That means before going to a pub, to a restaurant, visiting someone’s house, or even going shopping.”
Residents living close to Wester Hailes Library are being urged to come forward and get a free, rapid COVID test at the temporary community testing centre if they don’t have symptoms of the virus.
The Asymptomatic Testing Centre (ATC) is open until Sunday 9 May from 9am to 6pm daily and is the second ATC in the Capital, following the first one which operated from Craigmillar Library until 2 May.
Local resident Sas Martinez popped into Wester Hailes Library for a quick COVID test, to check if he was carrying the virus despite feeling fine.
Sas said:“I think it’s really important to get tested as you don’t really know if you are a carrier of COVID. People are unwittingly spreading the virus as they don’t have any symptoms and they don’t know they could be spreading it.
“If more people get the test they will know for sure they are ok and people who do test positive can self-isolate, which will help stop the spread and keep their families safe – and, in turn, their local community.
“We all want to get back to normal as soon as possible and taking this test will help us achieve that.”
When Sas went to the community testing centre, he also met Council Leader Adam McVey and Depute Leader Cammy Day, who had come along to visit the centre and meet the staff working so hard to help identify symptomless cases in the local community and limit the spread.
Cllr McVey said: “These community testing centres are vital in keeping the pandemic under control and getting back to something like normality again.
“If we can identify positive cases, even though there may be no symptoms, we can better keep the spread under control and keep people safe.
“It was great to meet Sas and all the staff doing such a great job to run the centre safely and efficiently.”
Cllr Day said: “If we don’t know where all the cases of COVID are, we’re in a much more difficult position when it comes to stopping the virus in its tracks if outbreaks do occur, so it’s really important as many people as possible come forward for a free and very quick test when there’s a community testing centre in their area.
“Hats off to all the centre staff here in Wester Hailes Library, they’re working incredibly hard on such a valuable project.”
Asymptomatic testing centres are run in partnership with the Scottish Government. The next ATC in Edinburgh will open at Gilmerton Library from 10 to 16 May.
Residents who do not have any of the three COVID symptoms (a new continuous cough, temperature, loss or change in sense of taste or smell) are encouraged to get tested.
There is no need to book and testing is available from Wester Hailes Library until Sunday 9 May 2021, open 9am to 6pm daily.
The centre is only for people without symptoms.
Anyone with COVID 19 symptoms should self-isolate and book a test in the usual way via nhsinform.scot or by calling 0800 028 2816.
Residents will be tested using lateral flow devices (LFDs), which can give people their results in around 45 minutes. Any positive cases will then be confirmed by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test.
