Bucks Council – Covid-19 Mobile Testing Sites

Press Release from Buckinghamshire Council

20 November 2020

Update on mobile coronavirus testing sites for Buckinghamshire over coming week

Mobile coronavirus testing sites will be setting up at a range of locations across Buckinghamshire over the coming week.

The mobile testing sites will be at:

·        Princes Risborough, on Saturday, 21 November

·        Buckingham, on Monday, 23 November

·        Gerrards Cross, on Tuesday, 24 November

·        Marlow, on Wednesday, 25 November and Saturday, 28 November

Walk-through testing sites are also open seven days a week at the Gateway Centre car park in Aylesbury and the Buckinghamshire New University campus in High Wycombe, and these will be in place for the foreseeable future.

These sites are open for use by anyone with coronavirus symptoms, and all tests must be booked first – they are not available on a ‘drop-in’ basis.

Anyone with even mild symptoms is being encouraged to arrange a test to help stop the spread of the virus. Symptoms include a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste. Anyone with one or more of these symptoms should book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. It is also possible to order a home testing kit via the website.

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

A testing centre operating in Slough is also currently open to Buckinghamshire residents, for booked-in visits only.

Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Community Engagement at Buckinghamshire Council, said: “If you have coronavirus symptoms, no matter how mild, please book a test as soon as you can and isolate unless you get a ‘negative’ result. Please also isolate if anyone in your household develops symptoms.  It’s really important that everyone in Buckinghamshire remains vigilant and follows the latest guidance. With stricter lockdown measures now in effect, the mobile testing sites and the walk-through testing sites will be hugely important as we work together to stop the spread of the virus.”

Dr Raj Bajwa, GP and Chair of NHS Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Testing is essential to help keep NHS services running smoothly and to help vulnerable people stay as safe as possible from coronavirus infection. These mobile sites offer a great boost to our testing capabilities in Buckinghamshire, so we hope they will be well-used by those that need them.”

For more information about walk-through testing sites, you can watch this video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcRw92bO8xg&t=50s.

You can read the full guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, and on the latest lockdown measures, on the government website – https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

If you need extra support during the coming lockdown period, please keep checking www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/ which will continue to be updated with information about the various ways you can get help.