Accurate testing will be key to containing coronavirus outbreaks for the foreseeable future and that is why testing must be accessible to everyone.
That is the message of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP, Neale Hanvey, as he welcomed the new local test site at the Overton Community Centre. The local MP said that this new walk-through centre “will make it easier for many people in Kirkcaldy to access testing”.
Mr Hanvey was keen to stress that it was "good news” that new testing centres were opening using PCR tests. The local MP has previously been critical of UK government plans to increasingly rely on rapid lateral flow tests which have been shown to be much less accurate than the PCR tests available at testing centres.
The walk-through testing centre at Overton Community Centre opened on 12 February. It is part of a programme of walk-through sites created to complement the regional drive through testing network, as well as the option for home testing, both of which can be booked through the government’s online portal.
Mobile Testing Units are also travelling the country, responding to increased regional demand for testing and supporting hard to reach areas.
Commenting, Neale Hanvey MP said:
“This is really good news for folk in Kirkcaldy. While it’s right that we’ve been spending a lot of time talking about the vaccine rollout, we must remember that accessible and accurate testing is crucial to our route out of the pandemic.
“That’s why walk-through sites, home testing, and mobile testing units have an important role to play for the foreseeable future.
“A lot of effort went into selecting the right site to support folk in Kirkcaldy and this is a great example of government, the NHS, and Fife Council pulling together in the face of the pandemic.
“If you think you have symptoms of coronavirus, please remember to self-isolate and book a test.”
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