Health chiefs report "great response" to walk-in Covid-19 testers in Northampton town centre

Health chiefs are reporting a "great response" to extra Covid-19 testing in Northampton following concerns over high infection rates.

A walk-in mobile testing unit is set up in the Market Square for people with symptoms to walk in without appointments today (Monday).

A second drive-in unit is deployed at St Andrew's Hospital, although appointments must be booked online.

Public Health England have so far showed 12 positive tests in the town in 24 hours up to 9am on Sunday morning as extra testing was made available over the weekend.

Infection rates in Kettering and Corby are also being closely monitored due to increasing trends over recent weeks. So across the county anyone experiencing even mild symptoms is being urged to book a test.

Thousands of leaflets have been distributed in Northampton warning those living in the town of the need to follow new guidelines to slow the spread of Covid-19 or risk a local lockdown similar to one imposed on Leicester four weeks ago.

HERE'S THE ADVICE YOU NEED TO FOLLOW IN AND AROUND NORTHAMPTONLocal health officials issued their new guidance for Northampton residents after PHE identified the town as an "area of concern" over rising infection rates.

Advice includes limiting or avoiding contact with others from outside your own household — particularly indoors — and steering clear of public transport and sharing car journeys. And anyone with symptoms of the virus — however mild — is being urged to get tested.

And Borough Council leader Jonathan Nunn warned the easing of lockdown measures may need to be reversed if the upward trend was not halted.

Cllr Nunn said: "I won’t shy from the fact that we could be in a different position to the rest of the country in terms of guidance by the end of next week.

"It’s down to us as a population to do something about it."

Both Northampton testing sites are in town until today but plans are in place for a walk-in site to return to the Market Square. A third unit is set up in Wellingborough today (Monday) while more testing capacity is planned for Kettering and Corby later this week.

Eligibility criteria for tests have been extended to include anyone with coronavirus symptoms — new, continuous cough; high temperature; loss of or change in sense of smell or taste. Essential workers will be given a priority but tests are only effective on those with symptoms. More guidance can be found HERE.

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

Anyone who has had close recent contact with someone with coronavirus must then self-isolate for 14 days, if they are advised to do so by the NHS test and trace service, to help contain the spread of infection.