Preston's walk-in Covid test centres to close in major shake-up

Preston's walk-in Covid testing stations will close down this week after the government told public health officials in Lancashire that they would no longer be able to order the kits on which the facilities rely.
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The sites were set up back in August because of rapidly-increasing rates of Covid-19 in the city. They are currently located at Preston Market and Moor Park.

The market site will shut today (7th October), with the Moor Park centre closing on Sunday (11th October).

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It emerged last month that the Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF) was aiming to open at least one semi-permanent testing centre in each district of the county during the autumn.

Preston City Council's deputy leader Peter Moss getting a test, without symptoms, at one of the city's community facilities back in AugustPreston City Council's deputy leader Peter Moss getting a test, without symptoms, at one of the city's community facilities back in August
Preston City Council's deputy leader Peter Moss getting a test, without symptoms, at one of the city's community facilities back in August

The Post understands that Preston's new facility will be the previously part-time unit which operated late last month on Thursdays and Fridays in the University of Central Lancashire's Vernon car park.

The revised opening times of that site in light of the changes have not yet been published - and it is not known if there will be gap between the closure of the existing centres and any extension of the UCLan facility's operation.

However, unlike the community testing stations - which were available to people without either an appointment or symptoms - the university site requires both.

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If those rules remain unaltered once it becomes the sole facility in the city, that will bring asymptomatic testing in Preston to an end. The Post has sought confirmation of whether that is the case.

The community sites were established in an attempt to get a better understanding of the spread of the virus in badly affected areas - and bring it under control - by identifying asymptomatic cases.

However, capacity issues in other parts of the testing system meant that they became increasingly popular - often with residents from outside of the city council area.

The sites had to close early on several occasions and restrict access only to local residents because of the level of demand. Over 600 people visited the facilities on their busiest days.

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The community stations also moved from daily to five-day-a-week operation last month, after it emerged that the specialist kits being used there were in limited supply.

Lancashire's regional drive-through testing centres at the Capitol Centre in Walton-le-Dale and the Royal Blackburn Hospital - will continue to operate unchanged. Both of these locations already operate by appointment only via the national system and are for people experiencing Covid symptoms.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Lancashire's director of public health, said: "We've been informed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) that we will not be able to order any more VTN test kits for delivery after 11th October.

"This means that our five community testing sites will cease by 11th October. These are located in the areas with additional measures.

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"A big thank you to all volunteers and the 133 staff who were involved in a variety of roles. We have done almost 39,000 tests so far through the five community testing stations, which have supported the national testing programme in a range of weather conditions. The teams have dealt with the situation with good humour, flexibility and at short notice.

"We are now working with DHSC to establish alternative local testing stations throughout the county."

Neil Jack, chair of the LRF's Regional Co-ordination Group, said that the new sites "should make it easier for people to get tested by offering regular slots in local areas".

"You will need to book, rather than just walk in, but this should also help to manage capacity much more.

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"People are encouraged to get tested if they're showing symptoms. It's really important that we all work together to tackle the spread in Lancashire.

"And please stay at home if you've been told to, or you have been in close contact with someone who has Covid. You could be fined if you don’t self-isolate when you should be doing.

"We all want our lives to be more normal, and by stopping the spread we can all help each other and do this more quickly," Mr. Jack added.

To book a test, visit www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119.

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