A CLOUD of uncertainty surrounds the prospect of mass coronavirus testing being rolled out to St Helens.

St Helens Borough Council was ordered by the government last month to prepare for mass testing following the launch of a pilot in Liverpool.

But senior council sources claim St Helens has been left in “limbo” over mass testing, which has been described as a “vital tool" in the fight against coronavirus.

The pilot in Liverpool uses rapid turnaround lateral flow tests that are processed on-site, and is being credited for helping steer the city region out of Tier 3 restrictions.

Labour politicians have been pushing to have the pilot rolled out across the Liverpool City Region, but this was thrown into doubt last week after the government announced that it would be entering Tier 2.

And comments during a Downing Street press conference on Tuesday suggested Tier 3 areas will continue to be the focus of mass testing, which it is now referring to as “community testing”.

General Sir Gordon Messenger, head of operations for the programme, said widespread military support like that seen in Liverpool would be “simply undeliverable”.

“I can say with confidence that cannot be replicated around the country, and therefore the military support, along with all other types of central support, has to be targeted where it’s needed most and where it can have the greatest effect,” he said.

“I have absolutely no doubt that the military will continue to play a really important part in the community testing programme but the baseline assumption in terms of workforce generation is that that will be delivered locally with considerable support from the centre.”

It is understood that volunteers have been undergoing training from the military in Liverpool in preparation for a mass testing programme in St Helens.

But a senior council source said delivering a mass testing programme without logistical assistance from the military would be “almost impossible”.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that public health chiefs would prefer a more targeted approach to testing, with increased resources.

This chimes with comments made on Sunday from the Association of Directors of Public Health and the Faculty of Public Health on targeted community testing.

They said the key priority needs to be targeted community testing where it can be “both effective and safe”, such as in hospitals, universities, and schools.

“Rapid testing capability provides a valuable addition to the public health toolbox, but it must be deployed in a targeted, effective, and safe way, as part of the overall response to Covid-19,” the joint statement said.

Downing Street has said local authorities in Tier 3 will be able to apply for support from NHS Test and Trace and the armed forces to deliver a six-week, rapid community testing programme after lockdown ends on December 2.

They said this will include access to a supply of lateral flow tests, support with planning and logistics and funding and communication support.

Details of the plan are due to be published next week.