Rapid coronavirus tests available in Dovercourt
Tendring District Council (TDC) is encouraging residents without symptoms to get a test
Rapid coronavirus tests are available for Tendring residents who do not have any symptoms of Covid-19.
A Lateral Flow Testing site is open in Dovercourt as part of Essex's role as a testing pilot area.
The PCR test site at Clacton Leisure Centre, which has been popular with residents, will cease operations once current stocks are gone following a change in Government policy on community testing.
Once the PCR tests are no longer available, an announcement will be made on TDC's social media pages.
Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Lynda McWilliams, said it's important people get tested if they are unable to work from home: "During this period of national lockdown it is vital that we all stay at home, and only leave our homes for essential reasons; while that includes work, if you can work from home you absolutely should.
"If though you cannot, and especially if you work somewhere where you come into contact with other people – such as in a supermarket or pre-school – then I would encourage you to seek a rapid test so together we can identify and isolate positive cases in our community.
"Our PCR testing site at Clacton Leisure Centre proved extremely popular, and I am pleased that so many people in our community came forward to get tested – if you have collected a test, please still complete it on Sunday and drop it back for analysis.
"We were prepared to continue running this, and expand it to other locations, but as the national approach to testing has now changed we will stand by to support the next phase of the pandemic response."
People can get a rapid test if they do not have Covid-19 symptoms by booking online, but those with symptoms must go through the national system.