This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Testing access to be expanded even further
Matt Hancock has announced six new ‘walk through’ local testing sites are now offering appointments to people in England, with the capacity to test hundreds of people each day.
There are now 68regional drive through test sites across the country, alongside six new walk-through sites in England, new mobile testing units, and special home test postboxes for safe and easy returns.
The new walk-through sites will bring testing to the heart of communities, by focusing on offering appointments to people without cars who can safely travel on foot, without coming into contact with others. These sites will continue to be expanded where there is demand from local communities and will provide a convenient option, close to where people live and work.
The Health Secretary also announced that home testing kits can now be returned without booking a courier service and that 30 additional mobile testing units are now travelling the UK, responding to increased regional demand for testing, and supporting hard to reach areas.
Hancock said: “It has never been easier to get a free coronavirus test, and our new walk-in centres are yet another way to get one. If you have symptoms, however mild, please get tested now to help stop the spread of the virus and protect the people around you.
“The biggest network of diagnostic testing in UK history is ready and able to offer a test to anyone, anywhere in the country. In England, NHS Test and Trace is there to help those testing positive to trace their recent contacts and advise those at risk to stay at home, ultimately saving lives. It is encouraging to see transmission of the virus is going down, but we all still have a part to play to limit this further. Getting tested as soon as you develop symptoms is an essential step to protect the most vulnerable and help us to safely ease lockdown measures.”
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