Rapid COVID-19 community testing available in Inverness, Tain and Dornoch
Issued in partnership with NHS Highland
Rapid COVID-19 community testing will be available in Inverness from Monday 28 June to Friday 2 July, in Tain on Monday 28 June and Tuesday 29 June, and in Dornoch on Wednesday 30 June and Thursday 1 July.
The community testing programme offers rapid COVID-19 tests for people without symptoms.
The Highland Council and NHS Highland will plan and deliver community testing in the Highlands wherever it is needed, to help people become confident in using the Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test kits.
As cases in the Highland region rise, providing further access to LFD testing, and assisting people in administering the test, becomes more important. However, we are not deploying to these locations due to any particular outbreak in these areas. Tain and Dornoch have not previously been visited by a Mobile Covid Clinic for testing, and Inverness has been selected in order to provide access to the highest number of people.
This will be the first week of rapid testing by our new mobile testing unit Moves Like Jagger, available for anyone without symptoms at:
Tesco Car Park, 1A Eastfield Way, Inverness Business & Retail Park, Inverness IV2 7GD (Moves Like Jagger)
Monday 28 June 9:30am-4:30pm
Tuesday 29 June 9:30am-4:30pm
Wednesday 30 June 9:30am-4:30pm
Thursday 1 July 9:30am-4:30pm
Friday 2 July 9:30am-4:30pm
The mobile testing unit Jabbernaut will be available for drop-in testing for anyone without symptoms at:
Tain Royal Academy Car Park, Hartfield Rd, Tain IV19 1PS (Jabbernaut)
Monday 28 June 12noon-4:30pm
Tuesday 29 June 9:30am-3pm
Dornoch Academy Car Park, Evelix Rd, Dornoch IV25 3HR (Jabbernaut)
Wednesday 30 June 9:30am-4:30pm
Thursday 1 July 9:30am-4:30pm
The mobile testing units will also be operating an LFD Collect service, which makes packs of seven testing kits available for free to the public, to be taken away and used at home.
The testing process takes ten minutes, and results are usually sent within an hour, though may occasionally take up to 24 hours.
The test uses the Lateral Flow Device (LFD) and is easy to administer. Results will be sent by text and/or email to those attending, so there is no need to stay on site. Guidance is provided on what to do if a test is negative, positive or unclear.
By taking a rapid LFD test twice a week, you can help your community, families and friends stay safe and slow down the spread of coronavirus. Tracking down cases of the virus earlier will limit the spread of new variants.
If you have been vaccinated, you should still consider getting tested. While vaccines reduce the risk of infection after 14-21 days, people who have been vaccinated could still become infected. No vaccine provides 100% protection against a virus.
No appointment is necessary to receive a test. When you arrive at a mobile testing unit, you will first be asked to wait outside, before being registered and entering. You will then be escorted to a testing booth.
LFD tests for people without COVID-19 symptoms can also be sent to your home, in packs of 7, by visiting the UK Government's coronavirus support page.
The LFD test is used in some workplaces already, including schools. If you already get tested through your workplace or education setting you should continue to use those routes.
Convener of The Highland Council, Bill Lobban said: “In Highland we now have three mobile testing units available to travel to identified locations with a team of trained staff to deliver testing for people without symptoms. Our mobile units can be deployed wherever needed. If mobile units come to your area we encourage you to make use of the testing facilities as this will enable quick detection of any localised cases of COVID-19. It also offers reassurance for anyone concerned about potentially being an asymptomatic carrier of the virus.”
Dr Tim Allison, Director of Public Health with NHS Highland, said: “Many people who have coronavirus (COVID-19) have no symptoms, and will be spreading it without realising. By expanding community testing we will be able to identify more cases giving us a better chance of stopping COVID-19 from spreading.
“Testing for those without symptoms, asymptomatic testing, will help us to identify those who are positive but do not have symptoms. We can then advise them to self-isolate and therefore prevent spread. Anyone that tests positive with an LFD needs to get a confirmatory PCR test. More testing helps to show us how the virus is spread and will help us reduce risk.”
Whilst the unit is being deployed, anyone that has symptoms of COVID-19, or has been identified as a close contact of COVID-19, must access PCR testing.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you should self-isolate immediately and seek a PCR test. Symptoms include new continuous cough, fever, or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste. If you have symptoms, you should not use an LFD test.
Similarly, you should not attend asymptomatic testing sites if you are currently self-isolating because you have been identified as a close contact, or if you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days.
PCR tests for people with COVID-19 symptoms can be arranged by visiting nhsinform.scot or by calling 119.