THERE are changes to the locations of some Covid testing sites in the Dorset Council area.

Since April, adults who show no symptoms of Covid-19 have been able to access free twice-weekly lateral flow tests. To accommodate this, Dorset Council and Public Health Dorset set up a number of community testing sites across the county.

However, with the introduction of home testing kits, fewer people have been going to the testing sites so the council has decided to change the locations and timings of some of the sites.

The changes to the asymptomatic testing sites in the Dorset Council area are:

  • From Monday 17 May, Wimborne Town Football Club site will no longer be available every day. There will be a mobile pop up (van) in the football club’s car park on a Monday and Thursday for anyone wanting to have an assisted test or pick up LFD home test kits
  • From Monday 7 June, the Swanage and Wareham Rugby club site will no longer be available every day. There will be a pop up in the rugby club’s car park two half days a week on Tuesday and Friday afternoons from Tuesday 8 June
  • The Co-op car park in Swanage, an area previously not covered will be visited by a pop up two half days a week on Tuesday and Friday mornings from Tuesday 18 May
  • From Monday 7 June, the Sherborne Rugby Club site will no longer be available every day. There will be a pop up in the rugby club’s car park two half days a week on Wednesday mornings and Saturday afternoons from Wednesday 9 June
  • The village hall car park in Cerne Abbas, an area previously not covered will be visited by a pop up two half days a week on Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning from Wednesday 19 May. This offers new testing provision in mid Dorset and a collection point where there are no pharmacies or supermarkets for collecting home test kits
  • The Square in Beaminster, an area previously not covered will be visited by a pop up two half days a week on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from Wednesday 19 May.
  • Charmouth Road Car Park in Lyme Regis, an area previously not covered will be visited by a pop up two half days a week on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons from Wednesday 19 May.
  • Weymouth Park and Ride site will remain open but the number of testing bays will reduce to four.

Councillor Laura Miller, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for adult social care and health, said: "It’s great to see more coverage of asymptomatic testing in the county for those residents who show no symptoms of Covid-19. I would really urge people to keep testing regularly.

"It’s great so many people are being vaccinated but the vaccine alone will not stop the spread of Covid-19. We need to keep following all government measures.

"We will continue to work closely with our local and national partners to provide community testing where needed."

For more information, visit the Public Health Dorset website.