Daventry Leisure Centre opens its doors for rapid coronavirus testing

Sessions are available for lateral flow device testing - otherwise known as rapid testing - which is used in people who do not have symptoms of Covid-19

The aim is to identify the one in three people who may be infectious without being aware, in order to reduce spread of the virus.

Rapid testing enables swift action to be taken to protect colleagues and family members of those who test positive with Covid-19 and to reduce any onward risk of transmission.

The new site will be open Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30am to 12pm and 1pm – 6.30pm, providing a wide variety of testing slots. Each test involves a swab of the mouth and nose and provides a result within 30 minutes.

Testing slots must be booked online in advance using this web link https://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-updates/Pages/covid-19- community-based-testing.aspx

Priority is given to workers in the following sectors: health or social care; transportation; education or childcare (if not receiving regular rapid tests via the workplace); essential shop, supermarkets or financial services; food production or processing; warehousing, packing or distribution; essential public sector services including waste, bin collections, security etc; construction, utilities or communications and agency workers.

It is advisable for people working in these sectors to take up the opportunity to get tested on a weekly basis to help to reduce the spread of the virus.

Dr Rhosyn Harris, Consultant in Public Health at Northamptonshire County Council said: “We are delighted to be launching our new Daventry Community Lateral Flow Device testing site. "We know from our existing sites that regular testing of those without symptoms helps us identify a number of positive cases and cut the transmission by isolating those individuals. It also provides workforces with some reassurance that workers are less likely to transmit the virus without knowing”.

For more information on Lateral Flow Device testing and guidance on how to book a testing slot, please visit https://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-updates/Pages/covid-19- community-based-testing.aspx

If you do have Covid-19 symptoms, please do not use these sites, please call 119 or visit https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test