Appointment only switch for Corby, Wellingborough and Kettering coronavirus testing sites

The testing sites have previously taken on-the-day walk-ins
The Kettering walk-in site in London RoadThe Kettering walk-in site in London Road
The Kettering walk-in site in London Road

Coronavirus testing sites in Northamptonshire have become appointment-only after previously allowing people to just turn up.

The move has created confusion locally, with no formal announcement being made before the switch happened.

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People had turned up at the Corby site in James Ashworth Square yesterday with no appointment and had been turned away, while others said they had been allowed a test on the day.

Jake Cunliffe, 24, said he had visited the site yesterday afternoon after coming into contact with someone who had a confirmed case of coronavirus. He said: "They told me I needed to book and come back. But there are no appointments online. People have been refreshing for hours and haven't been able to book anything.

"The place was empty when I got there."

There have also been reports of people from London being sent to Corby's testing site as it was the closest available with appointments. Last week, the county's Director of Public Health Lucy Wightman said that Corby had the highest testing rate in the whole country.

The town has experienced a recent spike in cases that appears to have levelled-off in recent days.

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The Northants Telegraph has contacted the county's urgent response comms hub for a statement but has not yet received one. The authority has, however, confirmed that the sites in Wellingborough, Corby and Kettering are now only accepting people who have an appointment.

The move comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock said today that there had been a 25 per cent spike in test requests from people who were ineligible. People across the country have recently reported difficulties in accessing local testing. It is thought that pressure on laboratories is causing the delays, rather than pressure on testing sites.

Testing is available in these locations, but must now be booked online in advance at the government's website

Kettering London Road car park - Pedestrians

Corby James Ashworth VC Square - Pedestrians

Wellingborough Market Square - Pedestrians

Corby Steel Park, Jimmy Kane Way - Pedestrians / drive through

You can book a test if you have a high temperature, a loss or change in sense of smell or taste or a cough.

Tests must be booked in advance either online or by calling 119.