Covid LFD test kit pop-up collection points extend to Caithness
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Packs of LFD tests will be distributed from several Highland locations from Monday until to Friday next week.
Highland Council and NHS Highland are working in partnership to increase availability of lateral flow device (LFD) tests throughout the Highlands.
Free packs of LFD tests will be made available to the public in several outdoor locations across the Highland region, to be taken away and used at home. Staff will be present to give guidance on how to take the test. The deployment is not due to any particular outbreak in these areas.
Packs of LFD tests for anyone without symptoms will be available to collect at the following locations:
Monday, February 14
Inverness Telford Retail Park (B&M) 8:30am-12:30pm, 1pm-4pm
Tuesday, February 15
Ullapool Tesco Car Park 9:30am-12:30pm, 1pm-3:30pm
Conon Bridge High Street Car Park 9am-12noon
Dingwall High Street (Museum) 1pm-4pm
Inverness Retail Park 8:30am-12:30pm, 1pm-4pm
Wednesday, February 16
Ardersier Memorial Hall Car Park 9am-12noon
Nairn High Street 1pm-4pm
Beauly The Square 9am-12noon
Muir of Ord Library Car Park 1pm-4pm
Alness High Street (Bank Lane) 9am-noon
Invergordon Library 1pm-4pm
Thursday, February 17
Inverness Victorian Market 9am-12noon
Inverness Inshes Retail Park 1pm-4pm
Thurso High Street (Museum) 10:30am-12:30pm, 1pm-3pm
Friday, February 18
Inverness High Street (Market Brae Steps) 9am-12:30pm, 1pm-4pm
Dingwall High Street (Museum) 9am-noon
Conon Bridge High Street Car Park 1pm-4pm
Muir of Ord Library Car Park 9am-noon
Beauly The Square 1pm-4pm
The agencies say that LFD tests are easy to administer and that by taking one regularly, we can help our community, families and friends stay safe and slow down the spread of coronavirus. Tracking down cases of the virus earlier will limit the spread of new variants.
They said: "It’s very important that you report your LFD test result so your contacts can be traced. This helps to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the community. To report your result, visit covidtest.scot.
If you receive a positive LFD test result, you must report your result and self-isolate immediately.
Free LFD tests for people without COVID-19 symptoms are also available to collect from pharmacies, and can be sent to your home by visiting nhsinform.scot/testing, or by calling 119.
LFD tests are already provided in some workplaces, including schools. If you do already get tested through your workplace or education setting you should continue to use those routes.
Highland Council convener Bill Lobban said: “In Highland, cases of Covid-19 are high. This makes it more important than ever to use LFD tests regularly to make sure we don’t have the virus asymptomatically and to reassure us that we’re keeping each other safe.”
Dr Tim Allison, director of public health with NHS Highland, said: “There is still a high level of Covid-19 within the Highlands and minimising spread remains vitally important. When dealing with a disease that can be asymptomatic, such as Covid-19, it is necessary to diagnose cases as early as possible to prevent more people becoming infected without realising. The regular taking of LFD tests in our community helps the NHS to find asymptomatic cases and stop the virus spreading.”
The Highland Council and NHS Highland’s community testing programme offers rapid Covid-19 tests for people without symptoms, through the use of mobile testing sites and outreach events. If you do have symptoms, you should not visit a mobile testing site. Instead, you should self-isolate immediately and seek a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Symptoms include new continuous cough, fever, or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste.
PCR tests for people with Covid-19 symptoms can also be arranged by visiting nhsinform.scot/testing or by calling 119.
