Central Bedfordshire Council: Free rapid Covid-19 testing available for priority workers
Date Added: 23/02/2021
Rapid testing is available to anyone who lives or works in Central Bedfordshire who are unable to work from home and are in a customer facing role.
Examples of the types of roles include people who work in social care, retail cashiers, childminders, bus and taxi drivers, tradespeople like plumbers or electricians, construction workers and many others.
If you go into other people’s homes or come into contact with other people as part of your job, then regular testing is important.
Around one in three people who are infected with Covid-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it. Identifying positive cases more quickly will help to break chains of transmission and control the virus.
Central Bedfordshire Council has set up rapid test centres at:
Flitwick Leisure Centre - MK45 1TH - open 7 days a week,
from 8am to 8pm
The Dunstable Centre - LU5 4JD - open 7 days a week, from 8am to 8pm
Saxon Pool and Leisure Centre, Biggleswade - SG18 8SU - open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, from 8am to 8pm
There is no need to book an appointment, just turn up. Take a smartphone if possible, on which you’ll need to register and be sent your results. Help is on hand for those who might need it.
Rapid-turnaround lateral flow tests are easily self-administered and processed there and then on-site giving results within an hour.
We strongly urge people who are coming into contact with other people through their work to get tested twice a week, ideally 3-4 days apart.
If through your work you are coming into contact with lots of different people, getting tested is the responsible thing to do to ensure you are not unknowingly catching or spreading the virus.
The rapid testing is also available for pregnant women and their partners prior to attending key maternity appointments.
Further information can be found on the council’s website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/rapidtests
Anyone with symptoms – a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – should book a standard PCR test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.
COVID-19 health advice
Watch out for vaccine scams
Unfortunately some criminals are taking advantage of the roll out of the coronavirus vaccine to commit fraud.
The most important point to remember is that the vaccine is free of charge.
The NHS will never:
ask you for your bank account or card details
ask you for your PIN or banking password
arrive unannounced to your home to administer the vaccine
ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips
Find out more and how to report issues on the Action Fraud website.