New Covid-19 walk-through test centre now open in Rotherham

A NEW Covid-19 walk-through testing site in Rotherham town centre is now up and running.
At the opening of the new Covid-19 walk-through test centre in Rotherham is Cllr David Roche, cabinet member for adult health and social care at Rotherham Council, Teresa Roche, the council's public health director and Cllr Chris Reader, leader of Rotherham Council.At the opening of the new Covid-19 walk-through test centre in Rotherham is Cllr David Roche, cabinet member for adult health and social care at Rotherham Council, Teresa Roche, the council's public health director and Cllr Chris Reader, leader of Rotherham Council.
At the opening of the new Covid-19 walk-through test centre in Rotherham is Cllr David Roche, cabinet member for adult health and social care at Rotherham Council, Teresa Roche, the council's public health director and Cllr Chris Reader, leader of Rotherham Council.

The huge marquee located on Forge Island car park will be open from 8am until 8pm, seven days a week.

It is estimated the site, which has eight testing bays and is operated by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), will be open for 12 weeks. 

This walk-in site has been set up to provide extra testing capacity in the town, on top of the drive-through mobile testing unit at Midland Road in Masbrough.

The town centre site, which will allow up to 24 tests an hour to be carried out, is for people who have experienced coronavirus symptoms, including a continuous cough, high temperature and loss of smell or taste, or think they mave been come into contact with the virus.

Rotherham Council’s director of public health, Teresa Roche, said: “Rotherham’s infection rates are still higher than I would like and are still not coming down quick enough - so I urge anyone with symptoms, no matter how mild, to get a test.

“I want to thank everyone who has been tested so far - we have seen one of the highest uptakes for tests, so it shows that people in Rotherham are really behind us in keeping the virus under control.”

Ms Roche said Rotherham’s above-average infection rate may indicate a later local peak to the pandemic, as well as local demographics.

Appointments are preferred for anyone who has symptoms and needs a test. 

Social distancing measures are in place and people attending the centre are asked to wear a face covering. 

The swab test takes less than a minute and is described as painless if unncomfortable. 

Test results will be available the following day and people testing positive should self-isolate for seven days, with other people in their household needing to isolate for 14 days. 

To book a test, visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119. Home testing kits are also available. 

Forge Island car park is still open but with fewer spaces.