Covid-19 testing at fire station

Perth Fire Station is to be one of the new bases for NHS Tayside’s Covid-19 testing units.

From August 10-16 and 24-30, the station on the Fair City’s Old High Street will act as the base for the units seven days a week.

Anyone with coronavirus symptoms, however mild, can get a free swab test which takes less than one minute.

The site is being operated by UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care in partnership with Mitie.

It will provide self-administered tests for the community and anyone who gets a test can expect to receive their results the next day.

These mobile testing units are being moved to Perth from their previous locations at Michelin Athletic Club in Dundee and Arbroath High School.

The units will operate from Forfar in the two other weeks of August.

It comes as the drive- through coronavirus regional testing facility moved from Perth College UNI to Dudhope Castle in Dundee on Wednesday, July 29.

Meanwhile, the figure for fatalities in Perth and Kinross where Covid-19 was a factor remained at 70 following the period from July 13-19.

Data released by the National Records of Scotland show there have been 21 care home deaths, 43 deaths in hospital and six either at home or a non-institutional setting in the region since the outbreak began.

And, since the start of June, four deaths have been recorded in Perth and Kinross where Covid-19 appeared on the death certificate – compared with 66 from March until the end of May.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “The Covid figures for Perth and Kinross continue to demonstrate the progress we are making, and pay tribute to the hard work and vigilance of everyone across the region.

“I would urge the public to keep following the Scottish Government’s guidance in order to ensure that we continue to suppress the virus.”