Community testing available in Newton Abbot
A new mobile COVID-19 Community Testing Centre will stop in Newton Abbot for the first time tomorrow (Friday March 12) and will continue to do between 8.30pm and 5.30pm every Friday until further notice.
The service will offer rapid tests for people without symptoms, with results available within the hour, from the Teignbridge Depot Car Park on the Brunel Industrial Estate.
And from Sunday March 21, and every Sunday after that, the testing centre will also be available at the town’s Cattle Market.
The tests are for all people who can’t work from home and who are in contact with others, like carers and emergency workers, as well as parents of school aged children.
All these groups are encouraged to take these tests twice a week and can book to have a test from today by visiting devon.cc/testing
A mobile unit already stops in Honiton, Exmouth, Axminster, Okehampton, Tavistock and Ivybridge and there are also fixed sites at County Hall in Exeter, The Civic Centre in Barnstaple, and the Exe Valley Leisure Centre in Tiverton.
Both the mobile and fixed sites are part of Devon County Council’s Community Testing Programme, which offers rapid tests for those who may come into contact with others and do not have symptoms.
Not to be confused with the NHS test centres and the national testing programme, which provide tests for those with symptoms, community testing centres helps identify those who maybe unwittingly carrying and spreading the virus.
One in three people with coronavirus do not show any symptoms and by testing negative it will ensure that residents can continue their day while still following public health rules.
And now that schools have reopened, parents of school children are also encouraged to visit either one of the mobile or fixed testing centres.
Alternatively parents can arrange to collect the home test kits from their nearest national testing centre, or there is home delivery by the NHS for those who can’t collect.
Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon, said: “If you are a carer, the parent of a school-aged child or leave the house to work or volunteer we encourage you to take these quick and simple tests twice a week to identify whether you are carrying the virus and potentially giving it to others.
“Your results are back with you within the hour. If you test positive, you’ll be asked to self-isolate for ten days. If you’re negative, you can continue your day while still adhering to public health rules – keep your social distance, wear a face covering when indoors in a public space, and wash your hands regularly.”
Teignbridge District Council Leader Alan Connett said: “We’re really pleased to have worked with Devon County Council to secure this important facility for Newton Abbot and Teignbridge.
“Here we have a considerable number of local businesses where staff have frontline roles – supermarkets, testing centres, and food producers – so it’s vitally important that we support them to be able to continue to operate safely, but also to support our non-essential businesses to reopen, and help to kickstart our local economy.
“I encourage all employers, large or small, to take up this opportunity – it’s quick, easy and cost-free, and will safeguard businesses, their customers and our local communities as we come out of lockdown.”
To book a rapid test and to find out more about Community Testing in Devon, visit devon.cc/testing
Anyone showing symptoms of having the virus should apply to the national testing programme.
