Fylde MP Mark Menzies has welcomed the news Fylde will benefit from a mass testing programme for Covid-19.
More than 1.6 million rapid-turnaround lateral flow tests will be deployed immediately for use this month in the first wave of areas currently in Tier 3 across England – including in Fylde.
Community testing builds on the 1.5 million rapid-turnaround testing kits that have been delivered to 90 local authorities across all levels of tier restrictions, expanding the capacity for asymptomatic testing.
Proactively testing asymptomatic individuals will help identify those who unknowingly have the virus, breaking the chains of transmission in communities where infections are highest and offer a route out for those areas living under the toughest restrictions as we work to keep the virus under control.
Mr Menzies said: "The vaccine arriving here in Fylde is fantastic news - but we cannot be complacent about the very real threat Covid-19 still poses to our community.
"Community testing allows us to break the transmission of this virus and further drive down the infection rate. I want as many people as possible to get tested so we can keep this virus under control."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I am really pleased to announce the first areas embarking on enhanced community testing programmes - after the successful work in Liverpool.
"With one in three people with coronavirus showing no symptoms, increased community testing is a vital additional tool at our disposal to help identify those who are infected and infectious, but unaware that they might be spreading the disease.
"Community testing will be very important in helping the areas where levels of the virus are highest to drive down infection rates and ultimately will help areas ease tougher restrictions.
“This is just the start, and we are working quickly to roll out community testing more widely as soon as more local teams are ready. I urge all those living in areas where community testing is offered to come forward and get tested."
More than 100 local authorities are currently engaged with the programme, which run for a minimum of six weeks, with more Tier 3 rollouts due to begin over the coming weeks and into the new year.