Derbyshire to get more Covid-19 community testing centres

Derbyshire County Council said new centres in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire will be opened this week, followed by High Peak next week.

Meanwhile, centres for Derbyshire Dales and Erewash are due to open by the end of February.

The council also said the centre at Midway Community Centre will stay open to cover South Derbyshire while Amber Valley will keep a centre in Heanor.

As for the centres in South Normanton and Shirebrook, they will remain open in the short term with a new venue opening for the Bolsover area in time.

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The council said one in three of those who have the illness but do not display symptoms, the testing is aimed at those who are still going out to work and mixing with colleagues or the public.

The testing will identify people with Covid-10 while enabling support for those who have to self-isolate and drive infection rates down the county.

People will also be offered advice and help with financial support if they are qualified if they need to self-isolate and help to access wider benefits.

Derbyshire's Director of Public Health Dean Wallace said: "Although rates of those testing positive are coming down we need to do more to try and stop the chain of transmission.

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“We know that many people are just not able to work from home so these new centres are aimed at those who have to go out to work and mix with colleagues and the public.”

Other established methods of testing for people with symptoms will continue alongside community testing and people who have a high temperature, continuous cough or have lost their sense of small or taste should book a test online in the usual way.

Those attending are asked not to bring bags or other items with them that they don’t consider to be essential, but are asked to bring a fully charged smart phone if they have one. Parents or guardians are asked to accompany those aged 11 to 16.

For more information please visit the council’s website here.

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