ASYMPTOMATIC testing is to be rolled out at pop-up sites in Scotland’s biggest city to identify more cases of Covid-19. The programme, funded by the Scottish Government, will offer testing to people in Glasgow without symptoms, in a bid to identify those who may be infectious and spreading the virus without knowing it.
New walk-in test centres staffed by armed forces personnel will be located at Glasgow Central Mosque and at Govanhill Neighbourhood Centre and will operate for several weeks. People living in surrounding communities who do not have Covid-19 symptoms are encouraged to come forward for the lateral flow tests from March 1.
Dr Linda de Caestecker, public health director for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), said: “Asymptomatic testing enables identification of infection so that people are not spreading the infection to their families, work colleagues or the wider community as they go shopping or exercising. That means we will be more likely to be able to reduce restrictions more quickly.”
Swabs from lateral flow tests do not need to be sent to labs and the results should be known within an hour. Similar facilities will be set up in other parts of Glasgow in coming weeks. Waste water tests and the most up-to-date data will be used to identify areas where asymptomatic testing is needed.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here