Permanent testing centre to be located on the Island

By Carole Dennett Apr 30, 2020

The mobile coronavirus (Covid-19) testing facility is available at 1Leisure Medina until tomorrow (Friday 1 May). Bookings can be made by calling 03333 218865.  As announced by the government on Tuesday, the eligibility criteria for tests has changed, and tests are now being offered to a wider group of people.

This includes:

  • keyworkers or member(s) of their household who have started to experience Covid-19 symptoms in the last five days;
  • all workers who cannot work from home and any member(s) of their household who have started to experience Covid-19 symptoms in the last five days; and
  • those aged over 65 and any member(s) of their household who have started to experience Covid-19 symptoms in the last five days.

This is part of a continued developing response and further reviews will ensure that sufficient capacity is available to test all those who meet the eligibility criteria, and to ensure they can get a test. The Council has also confirmed that the mobile facility will become a fixed provision for testing on the Island, remaining at 1Leisure Medina car park, but staffed by NHS staff from next week.

It will be available from Saturday (2 May) and will be open initially from Monday to Saturday, from 9am until 2.30pm each day. It will be an official Satellite Testing Centre (STC) of the National Testing Programme. It will be available to be used by people in cars or on foot.

All users are strongly advised to contact 03333 218865 before setting off to find out if they are eligible for testing, and to obtain an appointment, which will reduce the chance of having to wait or being declined a test. The booking line  will provide advice about eligibility, what you will need to bring (including employment identification) with you to the test as well as information about what to expect.

As well as testing being made available on the Island, the central government testing initiative using the postal service has been launched, with a limited number of tests per day.

Full information on how essential workers and others can access testing in this way can be found on the government website: https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/

There were no new cases of Coronavirus recorded on the Isle of Wight in the 24 hours to 5.30pm today. It means the number of confirmed cases at St Mary’s Hospital remains at 104.