Mobile coronavirus testing site to come to Blackpool

A mobile testing unit is scheduled to be in Blackpool on 17th and 18th September.
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Booking is required via the national system either online or by telephone, as walk-ups are not permitted.

The exact location for the mobile testing site is not yet known.

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Anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus can get a free test to check if they have the virus, alongside some people without symptoms.

A coronavirus testing centreA coronavirus testing centre
A coronavirus testing centre
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Meanwhile, council chiefs in Bolton have urged the Government to treat “major flaws” with the online booking system for Covid-19 tests as “a matter of the utmost priority”.

A number of residents in the borough, which has the highest infection rate in England, have complained of long delays in trying to book a test and then in some cases being offered appointments in other areas of the UK.

Conservative leader of the council, Councillor David Greenhalgh, said: “We completely understand how frustrating it is for people who are finding it difficult to book a test. This is an unacceptable situation, and myself and senior officers have escalated the issue to the highest levels.

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“In our experience, there are major flaws with the online booking system but this is a nationally run site which is not locally run and is out of our control.

“We as a local authority have done everything asked of us. Our teams have been working hard to increase testing capacity in Bolton – two new test centres have opened in the borough and a third is due to open this week. And yet we know these two new sites are currently operating below capacity, and our own residents cannot access a local test.

“This is unacceptable and it needs to get sorted and the issues resolved, and I urge Government to treat this as a matter of the utmost priority.”

The council urged people to only book a test if they have coronavirus symptoms or have been asked to get tested.

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