12 May Harlow receives a mobile COVID-19 test site
Harlow Town Football Club is a mobile testing site for COVID-19 this week.
The site on Elizabeth Way is open for pre-booked appointments today (12 May), Wednesday 13 May and Thursday 14 May between 10.30am to 4pm each day.
It’s hoped more mobile testing dates will appear soon and other sites announced across Essex in the near future.
The site is being supported by the military and is accessible for residents who meet the COVID-19 testing criteria and strictly by appointment only – booked through the national gov.uk website.
Tests are also being offered at the national site at Stansted Airport and by way of home delivery kits – which again should be booked through the gov.uk website
Testing should be carried out in the first three days of developing symptoms and not after day five.
Further information about eligibility and to book a test visit www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test
Robert Halfon, the MP for Harlow and the villages, said: “We know that what people in Harlow need most right now is certainty. This new mobile testing site at the football club is a welcome start and means that our incredible frontline NHS staff, key workers, those in adult social care and public services, will be able to easily get a test and find out if it is safe for them to resume normal life. It will also help us understand the traction of the virus in our town and enable us to plan our recovery when it is safe to do so. I hope that there will be more testing dates to share with residents shortly.”
Councillor Mark Ingall, Leader of Harlow Council, said: “The World Health Organisation has said that the key to defeating the virus is testing, testing and more testing, therefore I welcome the recent increases in testing for COVID19. However the tests are only effective locally if they are accessible particularly to the most vulnerable and our NHS staff, care home staff and key workers. A local site helps ease the stress at an already stressful time. The release of dates for mobile testing at the Harlow football club is a welcome development and we hope that more dates will be announced soon.”
Councillor Andrew Johnson, Leader of the Opposition on Harlow Council, said: “I welcome the news that the football club will be used as a mobile testing site. Along with Robert and Mark I hope further dates for Harlow will be announced soon. If we are going to encourage people with symptoms to take a test there must be plenty of options available to residents including sites which are close and within easy reach. We must help control the virus by staying alert and following the rules.”
