COVID-19 drive-thru test centre opens in Hereford

Pre-booked drive-through testing is available at Merton Meadow car park in Hereford

If you're an essential worker who is self-isolating, you can now apply for you and your household to get tested in Herefordshire for Covid-19 coronavirus.

The drive-through testing is available at Merton Meadow car park in Hereford and tests can be booked on the government website. The test is only for people who have symptoms of coronavirus – whether that’s you, or someone you live with. It involves taking a swab sample from your nose and throat. The test will tell whether you currently have coronavirus. After the test, while you wait for your results, you (and anyone you live with) must continue to self-isolate. Read NHS advice about how long to self-isolate.

If your test result turns out to be negative, you can safely return to work, as long as:

·       you are well enough

·       you have not had a high temperature for 48 hours

·       anyone you live with also tests negative

If you test positive, or someone you live with tests positive, you cannot return to work. You will need to continue to self-isolate.

If your condition gets worse, or you do not get better after 7 days, use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service. Only call 111 if you cannot get help online. For a medical emergency dial 999.

Herefordshire emergency response lead, Superintendent Sue Thomas said: “It’s good to see that tests for Covid-19 are now available locally for key workers in Herefordshire, with military support. The tests will provide reassurance and guidance to those experiencing coronavirus symptoms. More widely, we are starting to see the effect of social distancing on the spread of coronavirus, and I would ask that residents continue to stay home to protect lives.”

An Army spokesperson said, “The Armed Forces are helping to support the Government’s efforts to increase testing. This includes creating a network of Mobile Testing Units which will travel the country to reach essential workers at sites where there is a demand for testing.

“These units, operated by personnel from all three services, are deploying across the UK with soldiers taking swabs from key workers, including NHS and care home staff. A mobile testing unit is currently in Hereford at Merton Meadow car park.

“The units have been designed to clinical requirements by Army engineers and can be easily set up in under 20 minutes. The new mobile units will work alongside the drive-through test sites to rapidly increase the number of tests completed each day.”