A NEW coronavirus testing site opens in Leicester city centre today.
The site, at Upper Brown Street, will be able to provide free, on-the-spot tests for people who walk up to the facility without an appointment – you will not need to book, although you may have to wait if demand is high.
Drive-through facilities will not be available at this site.
Anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus – typically a new, persistent cough, high temperature and loss of taste/smell – is able to get tested.
The Upper Brown Street site will be open seven days a week, from 10am-4pm. A simple swab test is taken, which is then processed in around 48 hours, with people getting their results sent to them by text message and/or email.
Director of public health in Leicester Prof Ivan Browne said: “This new facility has the capacity to provide 500 tests a day.
“Testing is vital in our fight against coronavirus and helps to protect our most vulnerable residents. Only by identifying where and how the virus is spreading will we be able to prevent our numbers in Leicester from rising further.
“It’s always better to book your test in advance but this centre will be open to people who just walk up.
“We want to make testing as accessible as possible and I would urge local people to take a test and help us take control of this situation so that we can hopefully see an easing of restrictions in Leicester once the national lockdown is over.”
The site will join 10 others currently operating in Leicester – comprising four mobile drive-through testing sites and six walk-through local testing sites. These sites all require you to make an appointment, and as the location and opening of hours of the testing centres may change according to need, the best way to find your nearest testing centre and book a test is by visiting nhs.uk/coronavirus
For more information, advice and guidance on coronavirus, visit leicester.gov.uk/coronavirus
(ends)