From today, (Tuesday May 25), getting a no-symptom Coronavirus test in Hull is as quick and easy as popping to the shops. Testing in the city is going mobile this week, with a van and pop-up unit letting people test as they go about their daily routine. People can choose to have their test done by one of the trained team, or take some to do themselves at home.
Locations the van and pod will visit from this week include:
- Paragon Interchange (inside the pod formerly occupied by the Hull City of Culture 2017 team) – from May 25 to June 11
- Princess Quay (next to Primark) – June 14- 25
- Freedom Centre, Preston Road – June 2- 4
- Bransholme Shopping Centre – June 8- 11
- Asda, Hessle Road – May 26- 28
- Tesco, Hall Rd – June 14- 16
- Pennine Way, North Bransholme – June 17- 18
- Elmbridge Parade, Greatfield – June 21- 23
- Greenwood Avenue, Orchard Park – June 24- 25.
People can also still order tests to collect from a number of community locations, or for delivery. Endeavour Learning and Skills Centre remains a testing site, where people can either book an appointment or walk in. Previous centres at Ennerdale and Woodford leisure centres have now been stood down.
Tests are free, quick to do, and results are available within 30 minutes.
Tracy Harsley, Assistant Director for CitySafe, leads Hull’s testing programme. She said: “We want to make it easy and convenient for people to be able to test. That’s why we’ve taken testing to places we know people routinely go, whether that’s their local shops, supermarket, community centre or a commuter hub.
“We understand people have reasons they might not be regularly testing. It could be not understanding that asymptomatic testing is for everyone, having reservations or questions, or simply finding it hard to make the time to make a special trip specifically to have or collect a test.
“Our teams will be able to answer questions, explain how testing benefits and protects us all, and point people towards any support services they might need, like financial support to isolate.
“We’ve focussed on areas which will have a really high footfall to reach as many people as possible, as well as places we know have lower take-up of testing and vaccination.
“Ultimately, testing is here to protect all of us. It prevents the virus silently spreading in our communities which, as new variants continue to emerge, remains absolutely critical. By choosing to test, you are protecting everyone around you.
“We expect testing to be here for a long time, so we’re doing what we can to help people integrate it into their daily routine”.
For more information, including a timetable for the mobile testing units, visit: http://www.hull.gov.uk/coronavirus/coronavirus-community-advice-and-support/lateral-flow-testing-book-test.
