Details of pop-up coronavirus Lateral Flow Device (LFD) collection points next week in the in Highlands have been released – they will be at a number of locations including: Inverness; Ullapool; Conon Bridge; Dingwall; Ardersier; Nairn; Beauly; Muir of Ord; Alness; Invergordon; and Thurso
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Packs of Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests will be available from several Highland locations from Monday to Friday next week.
Highland Council and NHS Highland are working in partnership to increase availability of LFD tests throughout the region.
Free packs will be made available to the public in several outdoor locations to be taken away and used at home.
Staff will be present to give guidance on how to take the test and the deployment is not due to any particular outbreak in these areas.
Packs of LFD tests for anyone without symptoms will be available to collect at the following locations:
Monday 14 February:
• Inverness Telford Retail Park (B&M) between 8.30am and 12.30pm and 1pm and 4pm.
Tuesday 15 February:
• Ullapool Tesco car park between 9.30am and 12.30pm and 1pm and 3.30pm;
• Conon Bridge High Street car park from 9am to noon;
• Dingwall High Street (museum) from 1pm until 4pm;
• Inverness Retail Park between 8.30am and 12.30pm and 1pm and 4pm.
Wednesday 16 February:
• Ardersier Memorial Hall car park from 9am until noon;
• Nairn High Street between 1pm and 4pm;
• Beauly The Square from 9am to noon;
• Muir of Ord Library car park between 1pm and 4pm;
• Alness High Street (Bank Lane) from 9am until noon;
• Invergordon Library between 1pm and 4pm.
Thursday 17 February:
• Inverness Victorian Market from 9am to noon;
• Inverness Inshes Retail Park between 1pm and 4pm;
• Thurso High Street (Museum) from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1pm and 3pm.
Friday 18 February:
• Inverness High Street (Market Brae Steps) from 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm and 4pm;
• Dingwall High Street (Museum) between 9am and noon;
• Conon Bridge High Street car park from 1pm to 4pm;
• Muir of Ord Library car park between 9am and noon;
• Beauly The Square from 1pm to 4pm.
LFD tests are easy to administer. By taking one regularly, 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.
It is 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 the Covidtest website.
If you receive a positive LFD test result, you must report it and self-isolate immediately.
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 NHS Inform, 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.
Bill Lobban, convener of Highland Council, 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.”
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 not visit a mobile testing site. Instead, 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 NHS Inform or by calling 119.
