'Permanent' coronavirus testing centre in Northampton's Market Square is here 'for the foreseeable future'

Last summer saw a beach and a performing arts stage pop up in Northampton's Market Square. This year, there's a much different structure to see.

A permanent Covid-19 testing centre has now been completed in the town centre and is set to stand for the foreseeable future.

In the same spot as last year's stage and beach, there is now a fenced-off facility made using gazebos, portable cabins and staff toilets. It almost looks a first aid site at a music festival.

"Here on the Market Square we're building a slightly more permanent structure," said Borough Council Jonathan Nunn in a video on Twitter on Thursday. "And that will be here for the foreseeable future."

It comes after a temporary testing unit using tents and vans was set up on Thursday and Friday by the borough council working with the NHS.

Councillor Nunn said online: "Testing is really really important. You need to get tested. If you have any symptoms at all - and you know what they are, a new continuous cough, raised temperature and so on - you do need to come and get a test.

"And that's easy these days. You phone 119 or go to NHS.UK/coronavirus. It's an easy booking system.

"It's quite a simple process and nothing to be scared of at all. It screens just for coronavirus, not for anything else at all. It doesn't retain DNA or anything like that.

"We would really urge you get tested."

It only remains to be seen how long the centre will be here for. But a press conference on Friday is warning that, at 49 confirmed cases in the week leading up to July 26, Northampton's is accounting for more than half of the county's cases.

At the same press conference, Councillor Nunn warned the town was at a "fork in the road" to lead away from a local lockdown.

He said: "Scaremongering is an accusation that is thrown out quite easily. We know that we have got to get the message out. Potentially you are at a higher risk in Northampton than in other parts of the country and those facts are irrefutable.

"I’d sooner be called scaremonger than in two or three months time be asked why I did nothing. The right thing to do is to keep the message up."