Temporary Covid-19 testing units open in Lancashire today

People only need to be tested if they are showing symptoms.

Testing returns to these locations:

- West Lancashire College's Skelmersdale Campus, from Wednesday 3 June until Friday 5 June.

- Marl Pits Leisure Centre on Newchurch Road in Rawtenstall, from Friday 6 June to Sunday 8 June.

The Lancashire Resilience Forum wants people to be aware that appointments are required to attend and people must not just turn up.

Organised by the Department of Health and Social Care, the site can accommodate hundreds of people per day.

Anyone showing symptoms aged over five is now eligible for a test, following a change to the government criteria.

You can usually book a test on the night before, from around 8pm. Tests can be arranged through the Government's coronavirus testing webpage.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health for Lancashire, said: "We know that this situation is a difficult time for people. Through testing we can understand more about the scale of this situation and help us to bring normal life back again, once it's appropriate to do so.

"By testing essential workers and their families if they're showing symptoms, we can keep vital services running at this time and protect the essential workers themselves."

Other testing sites are already in operation at Preston College and Royal Blackburn Hospital.

If you or a member of your household has symptoms, you should stay at home and self-isolate for 7 days from the point your symptoms started.

If you live with someone with symptoms, you must self-isolate for 14 days from the day their symptoms started, as it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear. Contact NHS 111 on-line if you need healthcare advice.

The Lancashire Resilience Forum are working closely with partner organisations to create additional mobile and satellite testing sites in the county. This includes mobile testing for care home staff.

People experiencing symptoms must follow the government and NHS advice.

You can find out more or book a coronavirus test at: www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested.

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