A brand new walk-in test centre has been set up in Leeds to help the city turn the tide on coronavirus.
For the past few weeks, Leeds has had one of the highest Covid-19 infection rates across the country. The latest NHS data shows that more than 400 people in every 100,000 across the city have recently tested positive for the virus.
Several test centres are already in place across Leeds, but now another has been established in Chapeltown.
The new walk-through coronavirus testing facility has opened at the Mandela Community Centre on Chapeltown Road.
The location has been chosen by government officials for its close proximity to thousands of residents in the area who may not have a car.
Testing is only available for those with coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
Anyone with one or more of these symptoms is being asked to book a test online at nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119.
If you think you have symptoms, you should not use a taxi or public transport to get to the centre. Anyone arriving must wear a mask before entering.
Anyone testing positive for the virus in England will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace to help them trace their contacts. This will help to identify who they may have been in close contact with, protecting others from further transmission.
Close contacts of those testing positive will also hear from NHS Test and Trace, asking them to stay at home for 14 days to prevent them from unknowingly spreading the virus. They will be advised to also book a test if they develop symptoms.
Health minister Lord Bethell said: "To respond to the coronavirus, we have built a major testing and tracing system from scratch. We are constantly working to expand and improve it with new technologies and innovations so everyone with symptoms can get a test.
“New walk-in sites like this one makes it even easier to get a test no matter where you live. If you have symptoms of coronavirus, I urge you to book a test today and follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace if you are contacted to protect others and stop the spread of the virus.”
Baroness Dido Harding, interim executive chair of the National Institute for Health Protection, said: "Walk through sites offer communities better access to coronavirus testing, so everyone with symptoms can get a test. This new site is part of our ongoing work to expand our testing network across the UK which is now has the capacity to process more than 500,000 tests a day.
"We will continue to expand capacity to improve test turnaround times and push forward testing innovations to make sure anyone who needs a test can get one.
“Please book a test if you have coronavirus symptoms: a new continuous cough, a high temperature and a loss or change in sense of smell or taste, and follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace if you are contacted.”
For more information on how to book a test, visit the government website.
