A new, semi-permanent Covid-19 Local Testing Site which has been built on the council car park on Darnton Road in Ashton-under-Lyne has opened.
The site, which is next to the boating lake, opposite Stamford Park, will be operational from 8am to 8pm, every day of the week. The site is expected to be operational for six months.
A pre-booked appointment will be essential before attending the site, and these can be booked via the national portal www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by phoning 119. Availability of tests is determined by national capacity and appointments are released at different times throughout the day, so it is worthwhile to keep trying for an appointment. People should only book a test if they have symptoms.
Residents can arrive on foot or by car, and will be guided into and through the marquee for their test by friendly and helpful staff; the whole process should take approximately ten minutes. Site staff will have access to translators via telephone.
The testing site is fenced off and only members of the public with appointments can enter the site. Residents are asked to maintain a social distance from other residents if walking to get a test, and whilst on site.
Tameside Council’s director of population health, Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy, said: “It’s absolutely vital that anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms gets tested, as this is key to tracking the virus and helping us to protect one another. This new facility will mean there is a testing site in the borough every day, and the fast and simple process makes it all the more accessible.”
“I would also remind people to please only get a test if they do have symptoms to help make sure people who need a test can get one. We all need to play our part to help our local Tameside community and prevent the virus from spreading.”
