Walk-in Covid-19 test sites deployed in Northampton and Kettering town centres "until further notice"

Health chiefs ramp up testing even further to combat "increasing rates of infection"
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Walk-in Covid-19 testing unit will become permanent fixtures in Northampton and Kettering "until further notice" as health officials remain concerned by "increasing rates of infection" in the town.

The Local Testing Site will replace the mobile facility deployed in Northampton's Market Square earlier this week after the town was highlighted as an "area of concern" by Public Health England.

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A second LTS will also be stationed in Kettering town centre, in the London Road car park.

The Northampton site will be open from 2pm to 5pm on Friday, 10am to 5pm on Saturday and then 8am to 8pm seven days a week. Kettering's LTS is operating 10am til 5pm on Friday and then 8am til 8pm every day.

Health authorites deployed a mobile unit in Northampton's Market Square earlier this week .

Drive-through testing facilities — which are also available for walk-ins — continue to be stationed at sites in Northampton, Corby and Daventry.

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A statement from Public Health Northamptonshire said: "Improving access to Covid-19 testing is an important part of county-wide efforts to control the spread of coronavirus, and the new facilities will give people a longer-term option for getting tested in their area.

Here's where you can get tested in Northamptonshire todayHere's where you can get tested in Northamptonshire today
Here's where you can get tested in Northamptonshire today

"Anyone experiencing any of the following coronavirus symptoms, however mild — new, continuous cough; high temperature; loss or change in sense of smell or taste — should isolate at home with the rest of their household and book a test.

"People who test positive for Covid-19 will be helped by the NHS test and trace service to identify the people they’ve recently been in contact with so they can be alerted.

"Anyone who has had close recent contact with someone with coronavirus must then self-isolate for 14 days, if they are advised to do so by the NHS test and trace service, to help contain the spread of infection."

Tests can be booked online HERE or by calling 119.

Two walk-in testing units will be deployed in Northampton and Kettering "until further notice"Two walk-in testing units will be deployed in Northampton and Kettering "until further notice"
Two walk-in testing units will be deployed in Northampton and Kettering "until further notice"
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Public Health Northamptonshire, who last week issued additional guidance regarding working from home and limiting contact with other households, last night (Thursday) ordered a ban on sporting events across the county involving more than one team.

HERE'S THE ADVICE YOU NEED TO FOLLOW IN AND AROUND NORTHAMPTONNorthamptonshire's Director of Public Health Lucy Wightman said: “The county is experiencing increasing rates of infection, particularly across Northampton, Corby and Kettering.

"We must all act to reduce the transmission of the virus and we have taken this decision to reduce the risks associated with large gatherings.

“We are taking extra precautions in Northampton currently, to avoid local lockdown scenario. Allowing large events to take place where social distancing and regular hand hygiene may be difficult to achieve would potentially undo all of the hard work that has taken place over the last week." owing this guidance.

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"Governing bodies are providing some excellent guidance on how to remain Covid-secure throughout the process of returning to activity, and I would urge you to follow this guidance thoroughly.”

Thursday's latest government figures showed a total of 14 new positive tests recorded in Northamptonshire up to 9am on Thursday — 11 in Northampton, two in East Northamptonshire district and one in Corby.

No new cases have been reported in Kettering since Sunday (July 26), according to the Government's Covid-19 Data Dashboard. Corby has registered six new cases since Thursday (July 23).

Northampton saw 54 new cases reported in the week to July 30 compared to 58 the week before. The rate of infection fell from 26.36 to 24.54 per 100,000 of the population per week over the same period.