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South Holland's Covid testing site to close




The Covid test site in Pinchbeck will shut tomorrow.

Health bosses have taken the decision to axe the facility at Four Seasons House, in Enterprise Way, saying it is no longer needed.

This comes despite the fact that South Holland's case rate has risen - with the district still having the 15th highest infection rate in the country.

Four Seasons House, Pinchbeck (45963933)
Four Seasons House, Pinchbeck (45963933)

Director of Public Health Derek Ward said: "There is no longer the need for the larger testing facilities across Lincolnshire, as the numbers using these sites are very low."

The Covid test site only opened on April 10 - and it took about three weeks before any signs were put up to help motorists to find it on the industrial estate near the Morrisons supermarket.

The death of the Duke of Edinburgh - on April 9 - was blamed for the lack of publicity to promote the site.

Sign to the the Four Seasons House Covid test centre (46783531)
Sign to the the Four Seasons House Covid test centre (46783531)

The facility will shut for good at 8pm tomorrow night.

The case rate in our district is 50.5 per 100,000 - compared to a UK average of 22.

South Holland's rate had dropped to 29.5 per 100,000 on April 22 and 23.

Only one Covid death has been reported in the district since March 29th.

Mr Ward said: "People are tending to use home testing kits rather than the fixed testing sites and we'd encourage individuals to pick up test kits from their nearest collection point, which is likely to be a local pharmacy.

"Some of the additional testing collection points will be closer than you think, linked to supermarkets and stores."

You can find your nearest pharmacy on this NHS site.

Mr Ward added: "The test kits allow people to perform their own lateral flow tests, this process is very simple and will give a result in 30 minutes.

"They still remain an important part of testing, helping to identify those people who have the virus and don't know it, preventing the spread of infection to others and suppresses the spread of other variants.

"Two test kits can be picked up from your closest pharmacy or other collection point and each pack contains seven tests. This will give individuals enough supply to perform twice-weekly tests for seven weeks."

*What do you think? Is it right to close our testing site as lockdown measures ease? Post your comments below or email jeremy.ransome@iliffepublishing.co.uk



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