Loo-dicrous - Wellingborough Covid test centre closure caused by leaky toilet

Wellingborough residents desperately needing a Covid-19 test yesterday (Monday) were turned away by staff after being told it was closed for 'environmental issues'.

The town's Market Square walk-in Covid test centre, run by the Department of Health and Social Care, is usually open from 10.30am to 3.30pm, but people turning up for tests were told to 'come back tomorrow'.

It later emerged that the closure was the result of a leaking toilet on the temporary site - that is located just metres from the town's public toilets.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We are aware of this issue. It has been resolved and the site re-opened from 4pm.

"The site was closed because of an environmental accident involving the leak of a toilet.

"The site was given a deep clean and sanitised before re-opening."

One couple who tried to use the test centre at 12.20pm yesterday were turned away.

They said: "They said it was closed due to environmental issues and that we should come back tomorrow."

Advice on the Wellingborough Council website states that: "As you may be aware, there is significant demand on the testing network nationally at present, with labs already operating at capacity.

"Walk-in sites can still accept walk-ins without an appointment, but only if you are displaying symptoms.

"The number of people that can be accepted without an appointment is significantly reduced at this present time."

People wishing to book a test in advance have been advised to visit nhs.uk/coronavirus, or call 119, with new booking slots being released around 6pm and each morning.

Mobile testing locations open today (Tuesday, September 22) are:

Northampton, ​Market Square pedestrian testing only ​8am to 8pm;

Kettering London Road car park, NN15 7QA ​pedestrian testing only​ 8am to 8pm;

​Kettering Conference Centre, Thurston Drive, NN15 6PB​ drive-through testing only ​8am to 8pm;

Corby James Ashworth VC Square, NN17 1QG​ pedestrian testing only​ 8am to 8pm;

Wellingborough Market Square drive-through and pedestrians 10.30am to 3.30pm

Silverstone, Silverstone Circuit, NN12 8TN drive-through and pedestrians10.30am to 3.30pm

Towcester Tove car park, Northampton Road, NN12 7AD​drive-through and pedestrians10.30am to 3.30pm; ​

Towcester Racecourse, London Road, NN12 6LB drive-through and pedestrians​10.30am to 3.30pm.

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