PEOPLE living in or visiting six communities in Ross-shire next week will be able to pick up the Lateral Flow Device (LFD) Covid-19 test kits free of charge.
The Highland Council and NHS Highland are working to increase the availability of LFD testing across the region.
Free packs will be made available to the public at several outdoor locations to take home and use.
These include Dingwall, Conon Bridge, Alness, Invergordon, Tain and Ullapool.
Staff will be present to give advice on how to take the test.
The deployment, says the Highland Council, “is not due to any particular outbreak in these areas”.
LFD test packs for anyone with no symptoms can be picked up at the following locations:
Monday april 4th
Inverness Retail Park (Tesco car park) 9.30am-4pm
Inverness Inshes Retail Park (Tesco car park) 9.30am-4pm
Tuesday, April 5
Nairn High Street (outside museum) 9am-4pm
Alness High Street (Bank Lane) 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Invergordon Library 1-3:30 p.m.
Wednesday 6 April
Inverness Telford Retail Park (B&M car park) 9.30am-12pm
Inverness Retail Park (Tesco car park) 1pm-4pm
Conon Bridge High Street Car Park 9:30 a.m. to noon
Dingwall High Street (outside museum) 1pm-3.30pm
Thursday, April 7
Thurso High Street Car Park 10am-3pm
Inverness Slackbuie ASDA Parking 9.30am-4.00pm
friday april 8
Dornoch Cathedral Square 9am-12pm
Tain High Street Service Point 1pm-3.30pm
Ullapool Tesco car park 9.30am-3.30pm
The appeal from the two agencies is: “LFD tests are easy to administer. By taking one regularly, we can help our community, families and friends stay safe and slow the spread of the coronavirus. Earlier virus cases will limit the spread of new variants.
“When doing your home test, it is very important that you report your LFD test result so that your contacts can be traced. This helps prevent the spread of coronavirus in the community. To report your result, visit gov. uk/report-covid19-result.”
Information folder
Free LFD tests for people without symptoms of Covid-19 can also be sent to your home, by visiting nhsinform.scot/testing, or by calling 119. This service will be available until Monday 18 April.
LFD tests are already provided in some workplaces, including schools. If you are already being tested at your workplace or educational institution, you should continue to use these routes for as long as they are available.
The Highland Council and NHS Highland Community Testing Scheme offers rapid Covid-19 tests for people without symptoms, through the use of mobile testing sites and awareness events. If you have symptoms, you should self-isolate immediately and request a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Symptoms include a new, continuous cough, fever, or loss or change in smell or taste.
PCR testing for people with symptoms of Covid-19 can also be arranged by visiting nhsinform.scot/testing or calling 119.
