Mobile Coronavirus testing sites to be set up in Amersham and Buckingham over the spring bank holiday weekend

Mobile Coronavirus testing sites are to be set up in Amersham and Buckingham over the 2020 spring bank holiday weekend.

From Sunday 24th May 2020, a mobile testing site will be up and running in Amersham for up to two days while on bank holiday Monday 25th May 2020 another testing site will be operating from Buckingham for up to two days.

These are the second mobile sites to come to both Amersham and Buckingham recently and follow others in High Wycombe and Aylesbury earlyer in May 2020.

The two site in Amersham and Buckingham are in addition to other local and regional coronavirus testing sites, which are still available for residents in Buckinghamshire to use.

Anyone aged 5 years and over who has coronavirus symptoms (a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste) is now eligible to be tested. However, tests for essential workers, such as front-line healthcare staff, are being prioritised over tests for the wider public at this time.

To arrange a test, you must go to www.gov.uk/coronavirus and click on the appropriate link for you within the ‘testing’ section of information. The booking process is slightly different for members of the public to that for essential workers.

Tests must be booked and are not available on a ‘drop-in’ basis. You can also book a test at a different site via the website. Further details of the testing sites will be provided to people when they book their test.

If the mobile testing sites are fully booked you will be offered testing at the next-closest location.

Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Community Engagement at Buckinghamshire Council, said: ‘Testing is now available to anyone over the age of 5 who has coronavirus symptoms, not just essential workers – although they continue to be prioritised for obvious reasons.

This is great news and an important step as we work together to stop the spread of coronavirus and help Buckinghamshire’s communities move carefully forward. If you think you need a test, please book a slot.‘

Dr Raj Bajwa, GP and Chair of NHS Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: ‘Testing is essential to help keep NHS services running smoothly during this outbreak, and to help vulnerable people stay as safe as possible from coronavirus infection.

These mobile sites will offer a great boost to our testing capabilities in Buckinghamshire, so we hope they will be well-used by those that need them.‘

Further information about getting tested as a member of the public with symptoms can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-for-coronavirus/ask-for-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/.

Essential workers can find out more about getting tested at https://www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-essential-workers.

*Source of article : Press release from Buckinghamshire Council.