Walk-in and drive-in test centre opens
Slough: The country's first hybrid COVID-19 testing site opens for people with or without symptoms
The country's first hybrid walk-in and drive-in COVID-19 testing centre opened in Slough on Wednesday. The centre is based at Montem Car Park in Montem Lane.
The country's first hybrid walk-in and drive-in COVID-19 testing centre opened in Slough on Wednesday.
The council said having the centre in the borough was ‘excellent’, particuarly as Slough has seen high levels of infection.
The centre is based at Montem Car Park in Montem Lane and can be visited by foot or in a car by people with and without symptoms.
It will be open for those who wish to make an appointment and for those who just want to drop in - though drop-ins may have a slightly longer wait.
Josie Wragg, chief executive of Slough Borough Council, said: “We are proud to be facilitating, not only a site with huge capacity for testing but also one which is the first hybrid site in the country – where people can drive and walk in with no appointment.
“We have been reassured there will be plenty of assistance on site and we would encourage anyone with symptoms or who is concerned they may have covid symptoms, not just now but in the coming weeks to pop along and get a test.
“In an area like Slough, which has seen relatively high levels of infection and has a large black and ethnic minority population which is more at risk of both catching the virus and getting more severe complications from it, having such a site in our borough is excellent and improves testing accessibility for both our residents and those in surrounding areas.”
Up to four people can arrive together in the same vehicle and all ages can attend.
Tests will be administered by visitors under the guidance of trained testing staff on site.
There is no geographical limit on where people can visit from.
If walking, all attendees over the age of three are required to wear face coverings and there is special area for testing for those who do not wish to remove face coverings in public.
Parents are welcome to bring children.
Slough’s MP Tan Dhesi said he had been ‘demanding’ a test centre in Slough for months given the town’s high rate of infection.
He said: “Glad that will now be the case as test, trace and isolate become more important than ever to overcome the virus.”
Other access to the Montem Car Park is now restricted and residents are requested not to attempt to park on the site and use other cut throughs between Chalvey and the A4.
The site is being provided by the Department for Health and Social Care and is expected to be in the town for the foreseeable future.