Covid test centre opens in Thrapston

Testing starts today (Wednesday)
Covid testCovid test
Covid test

A walk-through Covid testing facility has opened at East Northamponshire Council's base in Thrapston today (Wednesday)

The testing site, in the council car park in Cedar Drive, has opened as part of a drive to make Covid tests more accessible with appointments made available each day.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Testing at the site is only available for those with coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. Anyone with one or more of these symptoms should book a test at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ or by calling 119.

The testing centre is being operated in partnership with G4S and will offer self-administered tests.

Alex Lever, managing director of G4S’s testing site programme, said: "The Thrapston walk-through site will play a key role in supporting the national response to the pandemic and we are extraordinarily proud of our dedicated employees at Covid-19 testing sites across the UK.

"Their enthusiasm has been inspiring as they continue to support the Government, our health services and the public in this crisis."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Anyone testing positive for the virus in England will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace to help them trace their contacts. This will help to identify who they may have been in close contact with, protecting others from further transmission.

Close contacts of those testing positive will also hear from NHS Test and Trace, asking them to stay at home for ten days to prevent them from unknowingly spreading the virus. They will be advised to also book a test if they develop symptoms.

Baroness Dido Harding, interim executive chair of the National Institute for Health Protection, said: “Walk-through sites offer communities better access to coronavirus testing, so everyone with symptoms can get a test. This new site is part of our ongoing work to expand our testing network across the UK which now has the capacity to process more than 700,000 tests a day.

"We will continue to expand capacity to improve test turnaround times and push forward testing innovations to make sure anyone who needs a test can get one.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Please book a test if you have coronavirus symptoms: a new continuous cough, a high temperature and a loss or change in sense of smell or taste, and follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace if you are contacted.”

Related topics: