Some Staffordshire residents are avoiding Covid-19 tests because they are worried about having to take time off work to self-isolate or scared of receiving a positive result, councillors have revealed.

Staffordshire County Council has rolled out Covid testing to people who are not showing any symptoms. And hundreds of positive cases have been detected as a result, a full council meeting heard on Thursday.

But while some people have called for longer opening hours for testing centres so they can get checked outside of working hours others are not so willing to come forward, members heard.

Councillor Sue Woodward said: "My worry is that those least able to self-isolate or take themselves out of work for 10 days are going to be the ones that don't get tested.

"I know nationally that 70% of the people who apply for self-isolation payments of £500 are being refused. I wondered if the leader or cabinet member had any comment on how we address that issue of people who don't want to go for the test just in case they prove Covid-positive and have to stay away from work."

Councillor Jeremy Oates, who represents Tamworth's Bolebridge division, said: "We've now got a permanent PCR testing centre supported by the borough council giving up a car park and we've got the community testing centres. But still we have high rates of infection and low rates of testing.

"I had a conversation with somebody last weekend about getting a test – this was a retired couple. They were genuinely scared of testing positive for Covid-19. It put fear into them and they would rather not know and stay at home anyway than find out that they are negative or positive.

"We've got a bit of a mission ahead of us to convince some people that actually it's OK to be tested, it's OK to test positive and then stay at home. A test is not going to make you any more ill or any less ill – but it might save a loved one and it might save you spreading it to someone else accidentally. We need to promote the positives of getting tested."

Councillor Johnny McMahon, cabinet member for health, care and wellbeing, responded: "I'm conscious that some people are reluctant to get a test because they feel that they will then have to self-isolate and then they can't support themselves in doing so.

"I want to look at the detail of that and I, along with (director of health and care) Richard Harling, will. If we can do anything in terms of lobbying we will. But we want to get under the bonnet first before we could commit ourselves to doing such a thing.

"In terms of testing I think we're doing well. It says we've managed to pick up 300 people without symptoms in the community – it's significantly north of 500 now.

"If you consider that each asymptomatic person is likely to infect two, that would be 1000, then they would infect two. It's the multiple effect.

"I think it's having a significant impact and I'm very grateful to those who do step forward to get a test. They're doing the right thing for their families, for themselves, for their workplace and for the community."

Residents have been urged to get a Covid-19 test if they need to venture out on a weekly basis. And those staying at home have been reminded that they can still go outdoors despite the national lockdown.

Councillor Oates said: "We need to remember it's been miserable, but the weather is improving. Go out for a walk. We can't stop and chat in the parks but there other people you can see, wave and say hello to at a distance."

Councillor McMahon added: "We're not in a great place as a community in terms of morale and I'm hoping in the next couple of weeks we will be able to do something as members together in order to be able to improve that.

"What I would say in the interim is we've got to concentrate on what we can do. A lot of the press and national stuff forgets the fact that we can go out – it's a beautiful day today.

"We can also go out and meet someone outside our social bubble while remaining socially distanced. We're not remembering that.

"I think we've got to have more of a can do attitude. I think we should share ideas and get our communities to share ideas with each other about what folk can do in the house or out.

"I will share with you in due course the NHS five ways of wellbeing – acts of kindness, exercise, concentrating on what you eat, being aware of your environment. We need to do more of this in order to improve morale and mental health and be able to get out of this in better spirits."

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