MKFM can exclusively reveal that three new local coronavirus testing sites are likely to be announced in the coming days as the infection rate from COVID-19 in the city continues to rise.
The exact locations of the sites are still being finalised, but they are likely to be in the north, centre and south of the city and have good transport links.
It is believed the local testing facilities, but not the locations, will be confirmed tomorrow in the weekly video update on infection rates by Milton Keynes Council Leader Pete Marland.
MKFM can exclusively reveal that the sites are being rolled out in part because of concerns over a national shortage in home testing kits which is leading to a delay in delivering them to people when ordered.
There is also a concern locally that results from the kits take too long to process and the information provided to the test and trace system is often poor, hampering efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus in the city.
MKFM can also reveal that while rates in Milton Keynes remain below intervention levels, there are concerns that the overall rate is continuing to rise, despite early warnings to take preventative measure seriously.
We expect that tomorrow’s video message from the Council will seek to directly address people who believe that the crisis is over or who state that there is little to worry about and that the warnings are scaremongering.
MKFM understands that there is a growing worry locally that some people are increasingly underestimating the impact of coronavirus and if they continue to ignore social distancing, or believe there is now little to worry about, then the city may be on the path to a second local lockdown that will massively impact the economic recovery.
Local testing centres are seen as a first step to try and prevent lockdowns and were introduced in Blackburn and Oldham before their lockdowns and in Northampton recently.
