Coronavirus mobile testing site coming to Aqua Vale in Aylesbury this weekend

A coronavirus mobile testing site will be running from the Aquavale Aylesbury Leisure Centre for up to three days over the coming bank holiday weekend – starting Friday, 8 May.

This is in addition to other local and regional coronavirus testing sites, which are still available for residents in Buckinghamshire to use.

The mobile testing site which opened at High Wycombe Park and Ride at Handy Cross this week will end its three-day run today.

Anyone who is eligible and wishes to be tested at the Aylesbury mobile site must arrange an appointment on the national booking website first – https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk Tests must be booked and are not available on a ‘drop-in’ basis. You can also book a test at a different site via this website.

Only certain categories of people are eligible for testing at this time, like NHS or other essential workers (and some household members), or people over 65 with coronavirus symptoms. More details of these categories are listed below.

People being tested must bring appropriate ID (like an NHS ID card) or a letter/ email from their employer to confirm their key worker status.

The site, which will be operated by military personnel, will operate a one-way system in and out of the parking area, so anyone using it should please take care to follow the signage.

Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Community Engagement at Buckinghamshire Council, said: “Testing is vital in the battle against coronavirus, so we are glad to have this mobile site up and running in Aylesbury this weekend, especially coming so soon after the High Wycombe testing site that ran this week.

“We would urge anyone who thinks they should be tested to please book a slot.”

Dr Raj Bajwa, GP and Chair of NHS Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Testing is essential to help keep NHS services running smoothly during this outbreak, and to help vulnerable people stay as safe as possible from coronavirus infection. These mobile sites will offer a great boost to our testing capabilities in Buckinghamshire, so we hope they will be well-used by those that need them.”

Tests are being offered to the following categories of people, and, in some cases, members of their household. They are not available for other members of the general public at this time:

All those working on the frontline in health and social care (with or without symptoms)

Patients in the NHS and residents in care homes (with or without symptoms)

All essential workers with symptoms

Anyone over 65 with symptoms

Anyone who goes into work because they cannot work from home (e.g. construction workers) and has symptoms

Anyone who has symptoms and lives with someone who meets any of the above criteria

You can find more details about eligibility for testing here - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested