Pop-up LFD collection points across the Highlands
Issued in partnership with NHS Highland
Packs of LFD tests will be distributed from locations across the Highlands from Monday 17 January to Friday 21 January.
The Highland Council and NHS Highland are working in partnership to increase availability of Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests throughout the Highlands. This week, there will be pop-up LFD collection points in several locations across the Highland region. Packs of LFD tests will be available for free to the public, to be taken away and used at home, and staff will be present to give guidance on how to take the test. The deployment is not due to any particular outbreak in these areas. LFD collection points are dependent on staffing and stock, and may be subject to change.
Packs of LFD tests for anyone without symptoms will be available to collect at the following locations:
Monday 17 January
- Cradlehall Court, Inverness 8:30am-12noon
- Culloden Central Shopping Area 1pm-3:30pm
- Wick Riverside Car Park 10:30am-12:30pm, 1pm-3pm
- Fort William Middle Street Car Park 10:30am-12:30pm, 1pm-3pm
Tuesday 18 January
- Inshes Retail Park, Inverness 8:30am-12:30pm, 1pm-3:30pm
- Golspie Fountain Road Car Park 9:30am-12noon
- Brora Station Square 1pm-3pm
- Broadford Village Car Park 10:30am-12noon
- Kyle Station Road Car Park 1pm-3pm
Wednesday 19 January
- Telford Retail Park, Inverness 8:30am-12noon, 12:30pm-3:30pm
- Tain Queen Street Car Park 9:30am-12noon
- Dornoch Castle Street 1pm-3:30pm
- Thurso Bridge Car Park 10:30am-12noon, 12:30pm-3pm
Thursday 20 January
- Merkinch Community Centre 8:30am-12noon
- Balloan Park, Inverness 1pm-3:30pm
- Dingwall Greenhill Street 9am-12noon, 12:30pm-3:30pm
- Aviemore Retail Park 9am-12noon, 12:30pm-3:30pm
Friday 21 January
- Inverness Retail Park 8:30am-12noon, 12:30pm-3pm
- Nairn Falconer’s Lane Car Park 9am-12noon, 12:30pm-3pm
- Brora Station Square 9:30am-12noon
- Golspie Fountain Road Car Park 1pm-3pm
Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests are easy to administer. By taking one twice a week, we can help our 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.
Free LFD tests for people without COVID-19 symptoms are also available to collect from pharmacies, and can be sent to your home by visiting nhsinform.scot/testing, or by calling 119.
LFD tests are already provided in some workplaces, including schools. If you do already get tested through your workplace or education setting you should continue to use those routes.
It’s very important that you report your LFD test result so your contacts can be traced. This helps to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the community. To report your result, visit nhsinform.scot/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19-report-your-test-result.
If you receive a positive LFD test result, you must report your result and self-isolate immediately.
Convener of The Highland Council, Bill Lobban said: “In Highland, cases of COVID-19 are high. This makes it more important than ever to use LFD tests regularly to make sure we don’t have the virus asymptomatically and to reassure us that we’re keeping each other safe.”
Dr Tim Allison, Director of Public Health with NHS Highland, said: “There is still a high level of COVID-19 within the Highlands and minimising spread remains vitally important. When dealing with a disease that can be asymptomatic, such as COVID-19, it is necessary to diagnose cases as early as possible to prevent more people becoming infected without realising. The regular taking of LFD tests in our community helps the NHS to find asymptomatic cases and stop the virus spreading.”
The Highland Council and NHS Highland’s Community Testing Programme offers rapid COVID-19 tests for people without symptoms, through the use of mobile testing sites and outreach events. If you do have symptoms, you should self-isolate immediately and seek a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Symptoms include new continuous cough, fever, or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste.
PCR tests for people with COVID-19 symptoms can also be arranged by visiting nhsinform.scot/testing or by calling 119.