Robert Jenrick MP visits Newark Covid-19 testing station

This morning (Monday August 10) saw local Conservative MP, Robert Jenrick, pay a visit to Newark's new Coronavirus testing station, where he spoke about the importance of the facility.

In partnership with Public Health England, Nottinghamshire County Council have set up the COVID-19 testing facility at the lorry park behind Castle House in Newark (NG24 1BY), and will be operating from there for three days. This follows a rise in cases of the virus around Newark, many of which are linked to the Bakkavor factory on the Industrial Estate. 

Jenrick spoke of a 'concerning spike' in the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases, and stressed the necessity for the utilisation of the testing facility along with Bakkavor's workforce testing. He said: "We will learn in the coming days as the results of those tests come through whether there is something we need to be more concerned about in the town and whether we need to take more decisive action to protect people." 

When questioned on the issue of the asymptomatic carriers of the virus (those who have been infected and are spreading COVID-19 but are showing no symptoms) and the debate that everyone should be tested regardless of their symptoms, Jenrick was adamant that resources are being used efficiently. He said: "The resources we have are being prioritised for those people who have symptoms, so that's why testing unit that's here at the moment is for the symptomatic.

But at Bakkavor, they're going to be testing everybody in the whole workforce so we get a real understanding of how many people might have the virus." 

He emphasised the seriousness of the situation, saying: "If we don't get this under control, then you've seen the kind of decisive action that local councils and the government have had to take elsewhere in the country - including not so far away in Leicester."

In regards to the reports of 'care-shares' being widely to blame for the spread of the virus, Jenrick shared that to remain safe in these situations we should be wearing a mask and wiping down the vehicle after use, as well as remaining socially distant during other interactions. 

"What we can all do in our daily lives is continue to follow the guidance: Washing our hands, trying to be socially distant and trying to ensure there's not much interaction between households."