Testing centres set to aid fight against COVID

Magnet walk-in site open and rapid tests planned for workers

The Royal Borough is set to significantly up its COVID-19 testing capacity over the coming days and will soon offer rapid testing for those who are unable to work from home, writes George Roberts.

On Friday, a new walk-in test centre opened up in the car park of the old

Magnet Leisure Centre, and plans are in motion to open two rapid test centres in the borough for people who work in public facing roles but cannot work from home.

This comes as COVID-19 cases continue to fall in the Royal Borough. In the seven days from Wednesday, January 20 to Tuesday, January 26, 428 people tested positive for the virus, 166 fewer than the previous week.

In the same period, 24 people have died, compared to 34 the week before.

In the borough, around 45 per cent of all coronavirus cases are transmitted from unknown sources, and the council suspect asymptomatic carriers are responsible for many of these infections.

Set to open at Braywick Leisure Centre and Windsor Leisure Centre on Monday, February 8, the new testing centres are designed to identify people who are carrying the virus but show no symptoms.

SLOUGH: Military staff have joined Wexham Park Hospital to help with the ongoing COVID-19 efforts.

Fourteen military personnel from 12 Regiment Royal Artillery Thorney Island have been deployed to both Wexham Park Hospital and Frimley Park Hospital to help assist staff.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust said the military personnel will be helping with portering, pharmacy and logistics departments, as well as support the COVID-19 measures such as ward movements and bed changes.