From Friday 28 May, the Devizes Leisure Centre testing site will close for in-person symptom-free COVID-19 testing, but people will still be able to collect lateral flow test kits to use at home from the site, with a range of other collection options also available.
Conservative led Wiltshire Council initially set up four in-person lateral flow test sites to provide assisted testing. However following the introduction of the home testing programme, which provides much more flexibility, Wiltshire Council set-up seven collection sites, which are now fully established. People can also collect tests from other community venues and pharmacies to use at home for twice weekly testing.
Conservative Cllr Simon Jacobs, Cabinet Member for Public Health, said:
We are now in a position where restrictions are gradually being eased in line with the Government roadmap, and the combined efforts of people following the safety measures, the vaccination programme and regular testing have helped to keep Wiltshire's rates of coronavirus low.
The collection sites have been offering much greater accessibility and reach to people that wish to undertake the government's recommended twice weekly testing.
We all need to continue to be cautious while restrictions are still in place, and remember to continue following the guidance about social distancing, wearing a face mask where required, and regular hand washing. It's also important to keep in mind that a negative lateral flow test does not guarantee that someone is not infected, so everyone should still adhere to the coronavirus restrictions even if they have received a negative test result.
There are seven Wiltshire Council-run collection sites in the county that all continue to offer the option to collect lateral flow test kits for use at home:
- Devizes Leisure Centre
- Bourne Hill in Salisbury
- Monkton Park in Chippenham
- Springfield Community Campus in Corsham
- Calne Leisure Centre
- The Vale Community Campus in Pewsey
- Nadder Centre in Tisbury
Anyone who is asymptomatic can collect lateral flow tests at the collection sites without booking, but should check opening hours of the site. This testing is being rolled out because around one in three people with COVID-19 do not have symptoms. Rapid lateral flow tests help to find cases in people who may have no symptoms but are still infectious and can give the virus to others.
The at home test kits are intended for use twice weekly, and results can be logged online. If the test result is positive, people need to take a PCR test to confirm the result. PCR tests can be booked through GOV.UK.
People who have any symptoms of coronavirus should not use this service. Symptoms include a high temperature, a new, persistent cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. If people are showing any symptoms, they must book a PCR test. Testing with symptoms is offered at the regional and local testing sites.
For more information on asymptomatic testing and the collect sites, visit COVID-19: Community testing.
All of the lateral flow test collection sites around the county including our sites and pharmacies can be found on this map, which includes opening hours and the status of the site: NHS Rapid lateral flow test sites and collection sites.
People can call the 119 helpline if they need any support including translation services, or for any assistance with registering their test or reporting results.
