Residents of Ferguslie Park in Paisley are being urged to find out if they have Covid19 when a temporary testing site for people without symptoms of the virus is set up in the area later this week.
The testing site will be open from Wednesday 24 March for seven days and aims to slow the spread of the virus in the area – which has seen higher-than-average rates of Covid19 recently.
The facility will be in St Ninians Church Hall, Blackstoun Road from Wednesday until Tuesday 30 March and will be run on a drop-in basis – no booking is needed.
It is being targeted at anyone who lives, works or goes to school in Ferguslie Park and is only for those who are not displaying any symptoms.
Anyone who does have Covid19 symptoms (new persistent cough, high temperature, loss of taste/smell) should book a test for an NHS-run centre instead.
The facility will use lateral flow tests – which are quick tests that will be processed on site and see results returned via text message within 45 minutes.
It is being run and staffed by Renfrewshire Council as part of the national rollout of community testing sites.
It follows a successful deployment of a mobile testing unit in Gallowhill last month and the large-scale asymptomatic test centre in Johnstone (the first in Scotland) last December.
The testing site will be open from 8.30am to 5pm each day apart from Thursday 25 March, when it be open from 11.30am to 8pm.
Chris Dalrymple, the council’s chief environmental health officer, said: “I would encourage everyone who lives, works or goes to school in Ferguslie Park to come down and get a test at some point over the next week.
“While we are pleased to say the overall Covid rate has been falling across the area recently, Ferguslie is one of the areas with above-average rates and the test site is intended to change that.
“Other asymptomatic testing in Renfrewshire and across the country shows that in any community at any given time there will be people who have the virus and are spreading it without knowing.
“So by getting tested and finding out if you are one of them, you will be helping protect your loved ones and your community.”
Anyone who tests positive will be required to self-isolate – along with the rest of their household – for ten days.
Financial support is available – you may be eligible for a Self-Isolation Support Grant and can apply for this through the council.
More information is at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-testing-centres