Temporary testing facility for Covid-19 returns to Blackpool and The Fylde College's Bispham Campus

The new testing facility, located at Blackpool and the Fylde College's Bispham Campus on Ashfield Road, will be open from Tuesday, June 9 to Thursday, June 11.

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

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

The Lancashire Resilience Forum wants people to be aware that appointments are required to attend and people can not turn up unexpectedly to be tested.

You can usually book a test the night before through the government's coronavirus testing webpage from around 8pm.

Dr Arif Rajpura, Director of Public Health for Blackpool, said: "These mobile testing sites help us to prioritise certain areas for a short time.

"Testing helps us to understand the scale of this situation and will help us to bring normal life back again, at the right time and in the right way.

"By testing essential workers and their families if they're showing symptoms, it helps us to keep vital services running and protect people."

People are also being urged to continue following social distancing rules and good hygiene measures. during this time.

This includes catching your cough with a tissue, putting the tissue in the bin and thoroughly washing your hands.

Dr Arif Rajpura added: "This is a difficult time and it's important that people keep doing the right things to protect themselves, as well as their families and friends."

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 seven 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 online 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