Community testing for Covid begins in Tayside

Community testing for Covid-19 will begin in Tayside next week. From Monday, April 12, those without coronavirus symptoms will be able to take a self-administered PRC swab test, with no need to book an appointment.

The PRC tests will be available at three mobile testing vans, which will move throughout Dundee, Angus and Perthshire every day.

Those without any Covid symptoms are being encouraged to take the tests, with results being administered by text after 24 to 48 hours.

It is believed that symptomless tests will give the NHS and local councils a better idea of what is going on in each area.

Taysiders who test positive will be asked to self-isolate for 10 days, the same as if they had taken a normal test.

Testing locations will be open from 10am to 4pm and anyone living in Tayside can visit any site.

NHS Tayside Director of Public Health, Dr Emma Fletcher said, “Not everyone who has the virus will have symptoms, so people could be spreading the disease without knowing it. Around one-inthree people with Covid-19 have no symptoms, but could potentially be passing the virus on to loved ones, friends and the wider community.

“By getting tested at one of the local units, you can find out if you have Covid19, even if you have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, and take immediate action to stop the spread of the virus.

“If we can find and isolate more positive cases, we can drive down the incidence of the virus in the community and get us closer to being able to return to doing the things we have all missed.

“There is help available to support you to selfisolate if you need it, so please come along and get tested.”

“Around one-in-three people with Covid-19 have no symptoms

ASYMPTOMATIC TESTING: NHS Tayside Director of Public Health Dr Emma Fletcher says people could be spreading the disease without knowing.