A MOBILE coronavirus testing centre has been set up in Stanley as health officials continue their efforts to track down customers of a club linked to 15 confirmed Covid-19 cases.
Durham County Council confirmed one man had been admitted to hospital after extensive inquiries linked the cases to the Stanley Empire Club.
Council staff along, with Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace have worked together since the first suspected cases came to light, to contact as many people as possible who visited the club on August 9, 10 and 11 to advise them to self-isolate.
Director of public health for County Durham Amanda Healy said one person who was infectious was known to have been in the club on the relevant dates.
She added: “We had over 100 people who were contacted. We know through NHS Test and Trace more than three quarters of those who were at the club have been contacted and the rest are being followed up.
“The people of Stanley have responded really well and have come together to give us information. We’ve had people self isolating before they’s even been contacted, after reports in the media.
“We want to get this outbreak contained as quickly as possible so we will continue to try to find any further cases.
“We fully appreciate that talk of 15 cases linked to the club may worry people but I would stress that these are existing cases we have found through our enquiries and not new unrelated cases.” No new cases have come to light since Monday and there are no indications of any further outbreaks in the area.
Cllr Lucy Hovvels, the council’s cabinet member for adult and health services and chair of the county’s Health and Wellbeing Board, urged people to continue use local services and support the town’s businesses.
She said “The fact we have reached so many people and know that all of them are self-isolating is fantastic as we know this means there is now reduced risk of further spread of the virus.
“I think the people of Stanley have really stepped up to the mark.”
Testing will be available for anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus. These are a high temperature, a new continuous cough, and a loss or change to your sense of taste or smell.
The mobile testing unit will be located at the car park at the rear of the Empire Club for 14 days from 10.30am to 3.30pm daily.
The unit is available for any County Durham residents who have symptoms, as part of the testing network for the county.
People are advised to book tests in advance online at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested or by phoning 119.
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