Good start for rapid turnaround Covid-19 test centres in Mansfield

The number being tested at the centre at Mansfield Town’s One Call Stadium peaked on February 1 with 285 people attending.

The football club centre opened on January 28 and saw 178 people on the first day.

The other Mansfield centre, at Oak Tree Leisure Centre, opened on January 26 and had 143 attending on day one.

Since then, Oak Tree has had, on average, 100 to 120 people visit each day, while Mansfield Town is averaging at 150 over the past five days.

The small number of people who have tested positive for the virus have been advised to self-isolate for ten days.

Self-isolation payments may be available to help people who are affected by not being able to go to work, click here for details.

A community hub has been set up by Nottinghamshire County Council to help with day-to-day issues for people self-isolating, such as shopping and dog walking, details here.

Coun Marion Bradshaw, portfolio holder for safer communities, housing and wellbeing, said: "We are really pleased with the numbers of people attending the rapid community testing centres in Mansfield.

"This is how we can start to control the spread of the virus and keep Mansfield safe.

"The process is very quick and easy.

"There is very little hanging about because the results can be texted to your phone, usually within 30 to 40 minutes.

"It is especially useful for people who cannot work from home to get tested regularly and also important for people who may have caring responsibilities for a vulnerable person.

"The numbers who have tested positive are thankfully small but even if we pick up a handful of cases among people who may have no idea they are carrying the virus, that could potentially protect many other people.

“It should also be remembered that community testing will not work on its own so it’s vital that everyone keeps following the National Lockdown restrictions and the hands, face, space guidance."

Around one in three people who are infected with Covid-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it.

Identifying those showing no symptoms will mean finding positive cases more quickly and breaking chains of transmission.

Testing is available for asymptomatic individuals aged 18-65 years living or working in the district.

No appointments are needed.

The opening hours are: Oak Tree Leisure Centre – Tuesdays to Saturdays from 7am to 3pm; One Call Stadium – Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to 7pm and Sundays from 10am to 2pm.

There is free parking at both sites, please avoid using public transport in case you later test positive.

For more information about testing, click here.

Anyone with one or more of these symptoms of COVID-19 – a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – should not visit the rapid turnaround test centres but should instead book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

A local testing site for people who have symptoms of Covid-19, is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm at Mansfield Civic Centre.

An appointment must be booked before attending this site.