A local Test Site will be opening in Chelmsford at Sawyers Car Park on the Anglia Ruskin University Campus. This site will be for use by Chelmsford residents as well as university staff and students.
This new site in Chelmsford complements the regional drive-through testing network across the UK and home testing which can both be booked through the government’s online portal. In addition, mobile testing units are also travelling across the UK, responding to increased regional demand for testing, and supporting hard to reach areas.
Vicky Ford, MP for Chelmsford said “ It is extremely good news that Chelmsford has been selected as part of a pilot to open new ‘walk through’ Local Test Sites in England. These sites are easily accessible by foot or on a bike, rather than having to take a car. The Test Site at Anglia Ruskin University is conveniently located close to the centre of the City and the train station and will therefore be a big help to many people”
Vicky added “ anyone with symptoms of coronavirus - a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – should book a test immediately at nhs.uk/coronavirus, by calling 119, or using the NHS Covid-19 app.”
This expansion of testing supports the existing NHS and Public Health England infrastructure, which has more than doubled its testing capacity since the coronavirus pandemic began, supporting the commitment to expand local direction of national testing resources and move to a more locally owned and delivered testing model.
Across the UK, testing capacity has been expanded to more than 300,000 tests a day - meaning that anyone with symptoms can book a test for free.
Local authorities in England will have greater autonomy to deliver different types of testing models which are suited to the needs of their population and local communities.
