Coronavirus tests now only available if you have an appointment in Northampton

People in Northamptonshire who think they may have the coronavirus bug must now make appointments to get tested.

All eight permanent and mobile testing sites around the county were made available for people to just turn up following spikes in infection rates in Northampton, Corby and Kettering.

But the message from Public Health officials has now changed from tests can be booked to "must be booked in advance."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed earlier this week that 25 per cent of test requests had from people who should not be having them because they did not have symptoms.

This had caused a log-jam of swabs in laboratories leading to problems for people trying to booking tests.

But the switch has created confusion locally with no formal announcement being made.

Some people turning up at testing sites in the county claimed they had been turned away while others insisted they had been tested without appointments.

Last week, the county's Public Health Director Lucy Wightman revealed that Northamptonshire had one of the top five testing rates in the whole country. And she urged those with symptoms not to be put off getting a test.

Mrs Wightman said: “Anyone with even the mildest coronavirus symptoms — so that’s a continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss or change in your sense of smell or taste – must first of all isolate at home straight away with everyone else in their household.

"This is absolutely essential to help stop the further spread of the virus locally and protect vulnerable people, and though you may otherwise feel well you must not go to work or even visit a shop because this will put others at risk.

“Secondly, you should book a test via the NHS website or by calling 119. If you test positive you should continue to stay at home in line with government guidance – and this will enable the NHS test and trace service to identify and alert other people you may have come into contact with.”

Anyone experiencing any of the symptoms of coronavirus — a new, continuous cough, high temperature, or loss or change in sense of smell or taste — is being urged to book a test either online at HERE or by calling the dedicated 119 Covid-19 phoneline.

People who test positive for Covid-19 will then be helped by the NHS Test and trace service to identify people they have recently been in contact with so they can be alerted.

The current testing centres in Northamptonshire are:

Northampton, Market Square — for pedestrians

University of Northampton — for pedestrians or drive-in

Brackmills, Gowerton Road — for pedestrians or drive-in

Wellingborough, Market Square — for pedestrians

Kettering Conference Centre — drive-in only

Kettering, London Road car park — for pedestrians

Corby, James Ashworth VC Square — for pedestrians

Corby, Steel Park — for pedestrians or drive-in