Temporary testing facility for Covid-19 open in Chorley conference centre

The new testing facility, located at Lancashire County Council's former Woodlands Conference Centre on Southport Road, has been organised by the Department of Health and Social Care.

Testing will begin taking place today (Friday, May 22) to Sunday 24 May, with the site being able to accommodate hundreds of people per day.

The Lancashire Resilience Forum wants people to be aware that appointments are required to attend and people can not turn up unexpectedly to be tested.

Anyone showing symptoms aged over five is now eligible for a test, following a change to the government criteria.

You can usually book a test the night before through the government's coronavirus testing webpage from around 8pm.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health for Lancashire, said: "We know that this situation is a difficult time for people.

"Through testing we can understand more about the scale of this situation and help us to bring normal life back again, once it's appropriate to do so.

"By testing essential workers and their families if they're showing symptoms, we can keep vital services running at this time and protect the essential workers themselves."

Other testing sites are already in operation at Preston College and Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The Lancashire Resilience Forum are working closely with partner organisations to create additional mobile and satellite testing sites in the county. This includes mobile testing for care home staff.

People experiencing symptoms must follow the government and NHS advice.

You can find out more or book a coronavirus test at: www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested

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