More than a hundred people a day will be able to access a lateral flow test in Rutland from next week
The site at Oakham Enterprise Park is open by appointment only.
On Monday (22nd February) a Lateral Flow Device testing centre will open in Rutland, for people who are unable to work from home and have no COVID symptoms.
The aim is to identify more positive cases of COVID-19 and make sure people with the virus then isolate.
The council says this programme is crucial as one in three people have coronavirus without showing any symptoms.
To be eligible for an LFD test at the Rutland testing site, you must meet the following criteria:
You must live or work in Rutland and cannot work from home during the national lockdown
You must not have any COVID-19 symptoms - the LFD testing centre is just to identify asymptomatic cases
You must not be self-isolating – for example because you’ve had close contact with someone who has tested positive, or have recently returned from abroad
You must not be part of regular asymptomatic testing programme already
The testing centre will be based at Oakham Enterprise Park and tests must be booked online in advance.
Mike Sandys, Director for Public Health at Rutland County Council, said:
“LFD testing is a quick and simple process that can identify people who have COVID-19 but no symptoms. This is extremely important for those who can’t work from home and might therefore be spreading the virus without knowing it. The new testing centre will be an important part of Rutland’s ongoing COVID response. Those who test positive having received an LFD test will need to self-isolate. Those who test negative will still need to follow COVID restrictions when at work and out in public and will be asked to continue to take regular tests.
“It must be stressed that Rutland’s LFD testing centre is only for people who have no COVID-19 symptoms and cannot work from home during the pandemic. If you have any COVID symptoms, you must self-isolate and book a test through the national GOV.UK website, or by calling 119.”