Symptoms or not, UK to pilot whole-city testing in Liverpool

The army has been called to help roll out the tests in Liverpool, which has been in the highest alert level 3. The whole-city testing is part of a new approach to deal with the virus following limitations were revealed in the controversial three-tiered regional alert level.

Everyone living or working in Liverpool will be offered Covid-19 testing from Friday, whether they have symptoms or not, in the first pilot of whole-city testing as England prepares for a month-long lockdown from Thursday following a surge in cases and deaths.

Commuters cross London Bridge in view of The Shard in London on November 2 ahead of a partial lockdown in UK. (Bloomberg)

The army has been called to help roll out the tests in Liverpool, which has been in the highest alert level 3. The whole-city testing is part of a new approach to deal with the virus following limitations were revealed in the controversial three-tiered regional alert level.

Officials said on Tuesday that Liverpool residents and workers will be tested using a combination of existing swab tests, as well as new lateral flow tests which can rapidly turn around results within an hour without the need to be processed in a lab.

The LAMP (Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) technology that is able to deliver significant volumes of tests is being deployed in Liverpool hospitals for NHS staff.

The pilot will help inform a blueprint for how mass testing can be achieved and how fast and reliable Covid-19 testing can be delivered at scale, the officials added.

Defence secretary Ben Wallace added: “We will be deploying 2,000 talented Armed Forces personnel to, once again, rise to the challenges posed by Covid-19 to ensure we go above and beyond for the Liverpool community…The military are uniquely placed to help with the fight against Covid-19.”