A new 'pop-up' centre to get tested for coronavirus will be hosted in Richmond on certain days during November, Richmond Council have announced.
In a press release published today (Monday, October 26), a spokesperson for the council said that anyone who believed they have symptoms could book a test at the centre, which will expand the borough's testing capacity beyond the drive-in testing centre at Twickenham Stadium.
The pop-up centre will run on certain dates (see below) at Old Deer Park, the council said.
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"People who think they may have contracted Coronavirus can get tested at a temporary pop-up testing centre in Old Deer Park, at selected dates this November.
"In addition to the drive-in testing centre at Twickenham Stadium, the tests are being offered to anyone who thinks they may have symptoms - not just key workers.
"Please note the test will not show if you have already had Covid-19, only if you have the infection on the day of the test."
Those tested will receive their results 48 hours later, Richmond Council said.
Leader of Richmond Council, Cllr Gareth Roberts, meanwhile urged residents in key demographics and anyone displaying symptoms to get tested:
"A key element of the strategy to eradicate this virus is to conduct as many tests as possible, especially for essential workers and those most at risk.
"If you are elderly, a key worker or covered by an of the categories listed above, and either you or a close member of your family has developed symptoms of Coronavirus, then please come and get tested," he said referencing the categories for symptoms as widely shared by health authorities in the UK and around the world.
They include:
• A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste - this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
The dates the Old Deer Park testing centre will run on are as follows:
o Monday 2nd November
o Thursday 5th November
o Saturday 7th November
o Tuesday 10th November
o Friday 13th November
o Monday 16th November
o Thursday 19th November
o Sunday 22nd November
o Wednesday 25th November
o Saturday 28th November
o Monday 30th November
For latest on case numbers in Richmond and elsewhere, click here.
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