Questions raised as mass coronavirus testing yet to be rolled out in Hartlepool

Health Secretary Matt Hancock wrote to every director of public health in England on November 9 offering to make the new lateral flow tests available with all North East authorities, including Hartlepool, agreeing to the programme.

It followed a successful pilot programme in Liverpool which has seen more than 200,000 people tested and is credited with helping to significantly reduce the spread of Covid there.

The Government released further details and invited local councils to apply for support for the six-week community testing programme the at the end of November when it was announced Hartlepool and the wider North East would be placed into the then toughest Tier 3 restrictions.

But Hartlepool resident Neil Sharp recently took to Twitter to quiz council leader Councillor Shane Moore why it had not happened yet.

Cllr Moore responded on January 5 saying: “Sadly it is behind schedule due to issues with the nationally contracted supplier.

“On a positive note Hartlepool is doing very well in vaccination roll out.”

A Hartlepool Borough Council spokesman told the Mail: “We are working very hard to put in place arrangements for mass Covid testing in Hartlepool and we will make an announcement on that shortly.”

Mr Sharp, 44, a plater in the off-shore energy industry, said: “I think it’s disgusting it hasn’t happened.

"Our numbers are shocking compared to other places in the North East.

"Stockton and Darlington have had it for weeks. I feel as if we’re just getting let down.

"It should have been sorted well before now.”

Mr Sharp, of Throston, claimed the testing facility at Grayfields is regularly very quiet.

He has had four negative tests for the virus and has self-isolated twice during the pandemic.

He added: “How many people are walking around with coronavirus that we don’t know of?

"I think we’re putting all our eggs in one basket with the vaccine.”

Public Health England said community testing is locally-led and all plans have been developed by each place’s local authority with the support of the central community testing operational team.

It added: “The testing plans for Hartlepool are underway and will begin in due course.”

Related story: More than 1,200 elderly Hartlepool patients receive Covid vaccine in three-day operation at town hall

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