Hertfordshire residents encouraged not to delay getting a coronavirus test

Hertfordshire residents with symptoms of coronavirus COVID-19 are being encouraged not to delay getting a test for the virus.

Booking a test is quick and easy. The booking site www.gov.uk/coronavirus will show the testing centres available for the next day and you should have your test done as soon as possible after your symptoms first develop. Coronavirus symptoms are a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or a loss or change to someone’s sense of smell or taste.

Drive through testing sites are now operational for everyone living or working in Hertfordshire – with testing centres on various days in the week in in Hertford, Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City. People who don’t have access to a car or are too ill to drive can order a test kit to be posted to their home.

For anyone who needs additional help to book a test, or who doesn’t have access to the internet, a telephone call centre is available – phone 119 between 7am and 11pm or 18001 0300 303 2713 if you have hearing or speech difficulties.

The call centre can also answer enquiries about the testing process and what to do once you have your result, or chase up any delayed results.

The drive-through testing facility at Tesco Headquarters in Shire Park in Welwyn Garden City opened last week and is open every day from 8am to 8pm. It has been carrying out an average of 210 tests every day. Here, people can test themselves with the swabs provided or have a swab test carried out by a trained professional. The test involves taking a swab of the nose and the back of the throat.

Please bring your mobile phone with you when you come to a testing centre. If you have booked a test at Watford, please note that you may need to pay for parking as you wait.