Community urged to get tested for covid as mobile unit opens
A new mobile testing centre is to open in a covid- hit Renfrew community today.
The centre, run by Renfrewshire Council, wi l l l aunch in Kirklandneuk Community Centre car park at 10am.
It will test both those who do and do not have symptoms of the virus after a spike in cases was identified in the local area.
The Express revealed yesterday how a large number of children and staff at Kirklandneuk Primary are isolating because of repeated positive cases within the school campus.
It is understood entire classes have now been told to stay at home.
And those who are still attending the Renfrew primary have been given lateral flow testing kits to take home to ensure households can test themselves for the virus.
The new site will however offer the more reliable PCR tests, with samples assessed by a lab and the results provided via text message within 24 to 48 hours.
It will run between 10am and 6pm every day until Friday, June 18, but will be closed on Wednesday, June 9.
Drive through and walkthrough testing will be available at the centre and people must book their test before attending.
It comes as the number of new covid cases across Renfrewshire remains high.
As of May 31, the seven- day infection rate stood at 149 cases per 100,000, but that figure appears to have stabilised in recent days.
A spokeswoman for Renfrewshire Council yesterday said the local authority was doing everything in its power to curb the spread of the virus locally.
She said: “We use every public health intervention possible to help suppress transmission of
Covid-19.
“This includes self- isolation of close contacts, local testing sites for those with no symptoms and mobile testing units for those with symptoms, and local collection sites for lateral flow test kits.
“We encourage all our communities to please follow the FACTS guidance – wear a face covering, avoid crowded areas, clean hands and surfaces often, keep two-metres physical distance from adults and to self- isolate and book a test if they develop symptoms.”
To book a test, visit http://orlo. uk/adUUd
People can also pick up free home Covid- 19 testing kits on weekdays between 9am and 5pm from today until Friday, June 18 at Renfrew Town Hall.
The home testing kits are for people who do not have Covid-19 symptoms.
People don’t need to book in advance of collection.
We use every public health intervention possible to help suppress transmission of Covid-19