Extra testing for four key areas has been announced after a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases in parts of Leeds.
In a bid to combat the increase in Covid-19 cases, areas of the city will be offered an enhanced programme of community testing, starting from Tuesday.
Residents in the Hyde Park and Headingley, and Little London and Woodhouse areas, who are not experiencing symptoms, will be encouraged to get a free PCR test at new pop-up testing centres.
READ MORE: Map shows Delta Covid variant dominating in West Yorkshire as infection rate doubles in Leeds
The centres are located at Cinder Moor on Woodhouse Lane, the Gryphon Centre at The University of Leeds and the Mandela Community Centre on Chapeltown Road.
Leeds City Council is also urging everyone eligible for a vaccine in Leeds to get their jab as soon as they can, with appointments now open to everyone over 18.
Next week, council officers carrying photo ID will be visiting the parts of both areas where cases have been particularly high, explaining the testing process, answering any questions and giving residents of all ages the chance to take a test at home.
To get the latest email updates from LeedsLive, click here.
Enter your postcode to find your nearest vaccine centre
Leeds City Council’s executive member for public health and active lifestyles, Salma Arif, said: “With this enhanced testing programme, we’re using every tool at our disposal to try and turn the tide of rising cases in both these areas- but we can’t do it alone.
“We know that with the Euros and the recent sunshine, this is an exciting time to get out and about for everyone who has missed seeing their friends and loved ones.
“But we need people living in Headingley and Hyde Park and Little London and Woodhouse to work with us, get a test and help us identify where these COVID cases are so together we can stop the spread and ensure Leeds can carry on enjoying a safe summer.
“By doing so, they will be not only protecting themselves and those close to them, but also those living in their communities who might be particularly vulnerable to the effects of this dreadful virus.”
The enhanced testing and messaging comes amid a steep rise in cases of covid-19 in both communities.
Enter your postcode for the latest Covid-19 data for your area
With Headingley and Hyde Park having a case rate of 841.3 per 100,000 people and Little London and Woodhouse’s case rate standing at around 337 per 100,000 people.
That is significantly higher than Leeds’s overall case rate, which is currently 161.3 per 100,000, an increase of more than 91 per cent in the past seven days.
Cases in both areas are particularly high among 18-24 year-olds, who are mostly unvaccinated and who may have been seeing friends and socialising more in recent weeks.
While hospitalisations and deaths in Leeds remain low, cases among over 60s have shown some increase over the past few weeks, with a current over 60s case rate of 17.4 per 100,000.
The enhanced testing programme is aimed at breaking the chain of infection between age groups and ensuring asymptomatic cases can be traced, treated and isolated before the virus has the chance spread.
