A Covid-19 Mobile Testing Unit has been set up at Westlands in Yeovil, as Somerset County Council continues to make testing more accessible to areas with acute need.
Anyone wishing to get tested must book a test in advance, and tests are only available for those with coronavirus symptoms – 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.
The drive-through Mobile Testing Unit will be in operation at the Westlands site. The days of operation may vary week to week and information on availability of this and any other Mobile Testing Units in and around Somerset will be given when you book a test.
To avoid the risk of cross-contamination those being tested must arrive by car -not on foot, via public transport, by taxi or by any other means. Only people from the same household should travel in a car together to the testing centre.
Trudi Grant, Somerset’s Director of Public Health said: “It is now more important than ever that we all work together, and testing plays a key role in helping to reduce the spread of this highly infectious virus. Self-isolating immediately once you notice symptoms, and then getting tested, is key to preventing the spread of the infection. Once an individual has a positive test result we can then also notify anyone that may have been in close contact with them and reduce the risk of the virus spreading even further.”
Councillor Clare Paul, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Somerset County Council said: “We’ve been working hard to get more testing sites into Somerset. The Mobile Testing Units are important assets in the County’s bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus.”
Tests are available at a number of sites in Somerset and just across the border. These include drive-through regional testing sites (RTS) which are available seven days a week, and drive-through mobile testing units (MTUs) which operate on different days each week.
Currently there are regional testing sites located at Taunton Racecourse, Exeter and Bristol, a walk-through testing unit at Bridgwater Town Hall and Mobile Test Unit sites at Frome Cricket Club, Yeovilton, Weston-super-Mare, Warminster, Cullompton, Dorchester and Bridport. Barnstaple and Trowbridge have also recently opened walk-through local testing sites.
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For more information, please contact the Press Office on 01823 355020 or email pressoffice@somerset.gov.uk.
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