Walk-through Covid-19 test site opens in Colchester

It's part of the Government's aim to improve accessibility for getting tested.

Author: Arlen JamesPublished 27th Oct 2020

Testing at the walk-through site at the University of Essex began yesterday, 26th October, and appointments are made available each day.

It's located in Car Park A of the campus due to it being easily accessible without a car.

Bookings are available for anyone with symptoms of coronavirus, such as a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

Anyone who books a test at the Wivenhoe location is required to follow public health measures including social distancing, not travelling by taxi or public transport, practising good personal hygiene and wearing a face covering to and from the site.

People will be provided with guidance on getting to and from the test centre safely.

Health Minister Lord Bethell said: "We continue to expand testing to make sure that everyone with symptoms can get a test, with our new walk-in sites making it even easier no matter where you live.

"This new site forms part of our national testing network, which has the capacity to test more than a million people a week and is growing all the time.

"If you have symptoms of coronavirus, I urge you to book a test today and follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace if you are contacted to protect others around you and stop the spread of the virus."

Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 should book a test via the NHS website.