Surge testing launched in Bolton after South African variant found
Health officials have set up a mobile testing unit on Wingates Industrial Estate in Westhoughton - where a case of the South African variant was found.
Surge testing has been launched in Bolton due to a South African variant of coronavirus being tracked to a local industrial estate.
Health officials have launched a mobile testing unit on Wingates Industrial Estate in Westhoughton (BL5) in a bid to find further cases in the area.
All workers age 16 or over are encouraged to get a test – even if they are showing no symptoms and/or have already had the vaccine.
The testing initiative is aimed at finding and tracking cases of the South African variant to gain a better understanding of this strain of coronavirus.
There is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness or is resistant to vaccines.
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Larger companies on the estate may already have their own testing facilities in place, but other workers can book tests at the temporary mobile unit online.
The testing centre will be set up at AirVault Inflatable & Trampoline Park on 1002 Great Bank Rd (BL5 3XU).
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It will be open from March 30 from 8am-4pm, seven days a week, until 12 April.
Dr Matthieu Pegorie, Consultant in Health Protection, (Greater Manchester) Public Health England North West said: “PHE North West is supporting Bolton Council following the identification of the South Africa variant of COVID-19.
“When no link is found to international travel, as in this case, it suggests that there are some cases in the community, which is why enhanced testing is taking place at Wingates.
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“We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and all necessary public health interventions are being undertaken, including enhanced contact tracing and control measures.”
Bolton Council’s Director of Public Health, Dr Helen Lowey added: “We want to reassure the public that the risk of any onward spread is low and that actions which are being planned jointly with Public Health England are precautionary.
“There is no evidence that it causes more severe illness.”
More information about mobile testing at Wingates is available online.
How will the Government’s new digital ID alternative for alcohol sales work?
Emily Sergeant
All licensed venues across England and Wales now have the choice to introduce digital proof of age for alcohol sales alongside physical.
Instead of having to hand over physical ID that contains personal information, such as names and home addresses, customers now have the choice to simply provide confirmation that they are 18 or over on their phone – helping to better protect privacy and personal safety in the process.
This means that, no matter whether you’re buying a drink at your favourite pub, heading to a festival, or enjoying a night out at a concert, you won’t need to worry if you’ve left your ID at home.
According to the Government, this new change will benefit businesses greatly too, as certified digital services are able to check that an ID is genuine and belongs to the person presenting it much easier than the alternative can, which therefore helps to reduce the risk of any fake or borrowed IDs going undetected.
Well, according to the Government, it could be as simple as a customer showing a QR code for staff to scan, or tapping their phone against a compatible reader, where staff will then receive a clear confirmation on their device that the customer has passed the age check.
This change follows a 2024 Government consultation where it was reported that 72% of respondents supported the use of digital identities for age verification when buying alcohol.
Digital Government Minister Stephanie Peacock reiterated that ‘it will remain an individual or business’ choice whether to use or adopt [digital ID]’ and that physical ID will ‘still remain a valid way’ for customers to prove their age.
“This groundbreaking change in the law will mean you do not need to carry a physical ID, nor hand over sensitive personal information such as your name or address just to prove your age, allowing everyone to feel safer on a night out,” she concluded.
Featured Image – Robin Worrall (via Unsplash)
News
Manchester to host G20 Summit in 2027 with more than a dozen world leaders descending on the city
Emily Sergeant
Manchester has been confirmed as the host city for the G20 Summit next year.
It was already announced back in November last year that the G20 Summit would be coming to the UK in 2027, and plans were apparently already being discussed to host it in Manchester even before Andy Burnham became Prime Minister and Number 10 North was set up.
But now, ahead of this year’s leaders’ summit being held in Miami in December, it has been confirmed that the G20 Summit will arrive in Manchester in November 2027.
Manchester is said to have been picked to host the leaders’ summit because of its ‘cultural heritage’.
Bringing together 19 of the world’s largest economies and two major multilateral bodies – the European Union and the African union – G20 members who will be invited to attend the summit next year make up 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population as a whole.
Manchester has been confirmed to host the G20 Summit in 2027 / Credit: 10 Downing Street | Paul Kagame (Flickr)
G20 members are also some of the UK’s closest economic partners, the Government insists.
17 of the UK’s top 20 global export markets attend the summit, as do 18 of the UK’s top 20 sources of foreign direct investment.
The presidency of the G20 is currently held by the US but will pass to the UK after the leaders’ summit hosted by the president at his Trump National Doral Miami golf resort in December.
The 2027 summit will be held at Manchester Central, it has been confirmed, and other locations across the UK will also host other G20 events as part of the year-long presidency, but these are yet to be announced.
The Manc -
31st March 2021 
