This is why some people with coronavirus symptoms in Northamptonshire have struggled to get a test

Northamptonshire health bosses are concerned the lack of coronavirus testing capacity will hinder their efforts to control the pandemic and reduce self-isolation compliance.

The government was unable to ensure the county had the number of tests required today (Friday, September 11) as demand has increased in other areas of England.

This has meant people with Covid-19 symptoms have been told there are no tests available, including those done by drive-thru, walk-in and at home.

Northamptonshire County Council director for public health Lucy Wightman said Public Health England has told them the issue should be resolved by next week.

"Obviously this is a concern. We've been able to identify where covid is in our boroughs and districts and see some improvement in some areas, albeit that we still have a long way to go," she told a virtual press conference this afternoon.

"So yes there is a concern if people become complacent or they suffer frustration in getting access to testing that they may not be compliant with the self-isolation.

"That's why we are asking people to be patient, to please do seek that test and look at home testing kits if that local availability is causing problems."

Cabinet member for transport, highways and environment, Ian Morris, added: "We just have to ask people to persevere with trying to get an appointment it will happen it may just take longer than people may have anticipated initially."

Since July, Northamptonshire, and Northampton in particular, have had the amount of coronavirus tests required because of their higher-than-average infection rates.

This meant anyone with symptoms, or even those who were worried about their potential exposure to the virus, could get a test at the walk-in centre in Market Square or the multiple drive-thru clinics.

But as national demand for tests has increased recently means the government cannot protect the same amount of tests for the county as before, leading to some people not being able to get a test at all or being told to go as far away as Inverness.

As a result, the guidance for Northampton changed this week so residents must now have symptoms before they can get a test.

Ms Wightman explained: "On a day-to-day basis we are given information about how much capacity the national system is able to protect in any area.

"Yesterday we were assured the capacity would be protected within Northamptonshire.

"Sadly today demand has increased even further and therefore, all of the testing capacity in Northamptonshire can't be assured so no doubt there will be people who will be told they can't access a test locally.

"Obviously we're still encouraging people to go where they can when they are able to get the test elsewhere."

The health chiefs defended their previous policy of providing tests for people who did not have symptoms after criticism from the goverment.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock blamed the issues with Covid-19 tests on people getting checked without having a fever, persistent cough or loss of taste or smell.

Northampton Borough Council leader Jonathan Nunn said that advice was right at the time because of the town's high infection rate.

"We fought and lobbied hard, both politicians like me and public health folk, we worked really hard to get testing capacity and that testing capacity was used," he said.

"We're really pleased about that and it should have been and the worse would have been if the testing centres were not used.

"It was absolutely the right advise and we're seeing positivity - it's a shame there are now issues down the line but that's been the case throughout this.

"At the moment that's the sort of bottleneck but testing and the fantastic response of the people of Northampton and Northamptonshire has been a success - no problem with that, thank goodness we did that and I still firmly believe that."

Ms Wightman explained that the only way they have been able to identify outbreaks in the county and take the action needed to bring the infection rates down has been through testing.

But now the situation has improved and national testing capacity has struggled, the county has had to lose precedence to other areas.

Ms Wightman added new test slots are issued between 6pm and 8pm and advised people to check the website or call 119 around those times if they are struggling.