The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
New mobile coronavirus testing facility to help reduce new cases
Centre in Gladstone Park one of a number of steps as Peterborough Covid-19 new case rate is higher than other areas
Residents have been using Peterborough’s new mobile coronavirus testing facility after it went live this week.
The new facility opened on Wednesday morning in Gladstone Park, and has a capacity of 300 tests per day - with the possibility to carry the relevant equipment for up to 500 tests.
Peterborough currently sits eighth in the list of places in the country with most cases per 100,000 people.
A North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust Spokesman said there had been 29 people hospitalised with COVID-19 in the past two weeks - during the same two weeks a month ago there were 46 new cases, and two months ago there were 228 cases. The trust runs Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford and Rutland Hospitals.
Anyone with symptoms can book a test by visiting www.nhs.uk/conditions/ coronavirus-COVID-19-19 Those unable to access the internet can call 119 to book a test.
Key workers can log on to the self-referral portal www. gov.uk/apply-coronavirustest-essential-workers.
They will be offered a dropdown list of local options for testing including nearby mobile units.
People can also attend the mobile testing unit if they haven’t booked an appointment, although it is advisable to do so to avoid having to wait.
Dr Liz Robin, director of public health for Peterborough City Council, said: “The additional testing facility is just one part of a larger plan to reduce the rate of community transmission of COVID-19 in Peterborough, which we know is higher than other areas in the East of England.
“Please, if you have symptoms of coronavirus – a fever, new continuous cough or a loss or change in sense of smell or taste – please book an appointment for a test and selfisolate immediately. You will also have the option to attend the permanent testing site at Peterborough Showground.
“If you follow the rules and test and isolate if you have symptoms, the safer it will be for your family and friends and the better chance we have of avoiding a second stage of lockdown.”
A further death related to coronavirus has been recorded at Peterborough City Hospital - the first in a week.
Caroline Walker, chief executive, for North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford and Rutland Hospitals said: “I can confirm that sadly, 248 patients being cared for in our trust have passed away since we began reporting Covid-19-related deaths. There have been 98 at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and 150 at Peterborough City Hospital. All patients were aged 30 to 98 years old and had pre-existing health conditions. They had all tested positive for Covid-19.” North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust had not recorded a COVID death at their hospitals since last Monday.
This week figures showed Peterborough stands in the top ten in the national rankings of the number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people. On Tuesday the city was up from 13.9 to 32.3, with 65 new cases recorded in the seven days to July 11.