DAILY coronavirus tests will soon be carried out at testing centres in three Dorset locations as efforts to curb the spread of the virus is ramped up.

The walk-in testing sites are located at Swannery Car Park in Weymouth, Dolphin Swimming Car Park in Poole and Two Riversmeet Car Park in Christchurch.

Public Health Dorset say that these sites are already in use and are currently visited around twice a week by a mobile testing unit. But from the middle of January the sites will be open every day.

It comes as Dorset faces a higher demand for coronavirus tests amid a 'rapid increase' in Covid-19 cases, which lead to Dorset Council being placed in Tier 3 and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council area being moved into Tier 4 restrictions.

The Weymouth, Poole and Christchurch sites will be available to book on the online portal by visiting by visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or calling 119.

Dorset Echo:

Home testing kits are available for those who can’t get to a testing site.

Rachel Partridge, assistant director of Public Health for Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole said: “We welcome the news of the walk-in sites at Weymouth, Poole and Christchurch being available every day for residents who don’t have access to private transport.

"We are always reviewing our testing sites to make sure we have enough access to testing for residents who need a COVID-19 test.

Councillor Nicola Greene, BCP Council’s Cabinet Member for COVID Resilience and Public Health said: “It’s reassuring to know that local residents can access testing quickly and easily should they need it with the introduction of the walk-in sites.

"It is really important to have testing available to those who need it. If anyone develops coronavirus symptoms, do not hesitate, book a test online or over the phone.

Dorset Echo:

Councillor Laura Miller, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for adult social care and health said: “it’s great news that the walk-in sites will be available every-day from January. We are still very much living with COVID-19 so it is important that testing is accessible to everyone.

Anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms: a new, continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss or change of taste or smell must self-isolate and book a test.

The full list of testing sites available in Dorset are:

* Creekmoor, Poole, BH17 7XD – regional testing site, there every day, accessible by car only.

* Lansdowne, Bournemouth, BH8 8AJ – local testing site, accessible on foot only.

* Hawkwood Road, Boscombe, BH5 1DR – mobile testing unit, accessible by car and foot, not there every day

* Wallisdown, Bournemouth, BH12 5BB – mobile testing unit, not there every day (currently closed to enable students to return to university)

* Swannery car park, Weymouth, DT4 7TY – currently mobile testing unit but converting to local testing site from mid-January

* Dolphin Swimming Pool car park, Poole, BH15 1TP – currently mobile testing unit but converting to local testing site from mid-January

* Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre, Christchurch, BH23 1HW – currently mobile testing unit but converting to local testing site from mid-January

* Bridport, DT6 4GA – mobile testing unit, accessible by car and foot, not there every day

* Dorchester, DT1 1XJ – mobile testing unit, accessible by car and foot, not there every day

* Purbeck Park, Norden, BH20 5DW – mobile testing unit, accessible by car, once per week

Each site will be made available to book depending on their scheduled location and capacity.

Wallisdown testing site will be out of use during January to help students return back to Bournemouth University and Arts University Bournemouth safely.

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