New Covid test centres opening in Derbyshire this week

Derbyshire County Council will open new centres in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire this week, and High Peak next week.

Centres for Derbyshire Dales and Erewash are planned to open by the end of February.

Amber Valley will keep a centre in Heanor, and the centres in South Normanton and Shirebrook will stay open in the short term, with a new venue opening for the Bolsover area in time.

The testing will identify people with Covid-19, enable support for those who have to self-isolate and drive infection rates down in the county.

Alongside the test people will be offered advice and help with financial support that they may be entitled to if they need to self-isolate and help to access wider benefits.

Dean Wallace, director of public health at the council, said: “Although rates of those testing positive are coming down we need to do more to try and stop the chain of transmission.

“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.

"It is this group of people who are at the most risk of getting the virus, and with one in three who do have the virus showing no symptoms they can easily pass it on to anyone they come in to contact with.

“Please if you are still going out to work come to your nearest centre weekly and get a test to protect your families, colleagues and community.

“It only takes a few minutes and will make such a difference.

"The quicker we can get on top of this virus the sooner our lives can start to return to normal.”

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.

Coun Barry Lewis, council leader, commented: “I’m pleased that we are now setting up these new centres.

“We’re also grateful to colleagues from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service who have helped to get things in place.

"Thanks also go to the district and borough councils who have helped in providing venues for us to use.”

To find out what the demand is like at the centres when you want to go along, click here.

The centre in Chesterfield will be at Queen’s Park Sports Centre oon Boythorpe Road and will open on Wednesday, February 10.

North East Derbyshire’s centre will open on Friday, February 12 and will be at Clay Cross Social Centre on Market Street in Clay Cross.

High Peak’s Centre opens on Monday, February 17 at Pavillion Gardens in Buxton.

All three sites will be open seven days a week from 9am to 7pm.

More information is on the council’s website here.