A new walk-through Covid-19 testing centre has opened in Maldon.

The new centre at the Blackwater Leisure Centre car park, on Park Drive, opened yesterday (Wednesday, 18 August) to make it easier for Maldon residents to access testing. Appointments will be made available each day.

Maldon MP John Whittingdale said: "I am very pleased to learn that NHS Test and Trace are opening a new testing centre for Maldon residents in the Blackwater Leisure Centre car park.

"Although those who come into close contact with someone who has tested positive no longer have to self-isolate if they are double vaccinated or under 18, it is even more important that they should get a test as soon as possible.

"I hope that the opening of this new facility will make it easier for people in Maldon to be tested if they have any reason to think that they might have been infected.

"Those who do test positive are still legally required to self-isolate."

The new site forms part of a national effort by the government to open more walk-through local testing sites across the UK, which support regional drive-through testing centres and home testing.

Mobile testing units are also travelling the UK in response to increased regional demand for testing and to support hard to reach areas.

Lord Bethell, junior health minister, said: "Before selecting this site, we have engaged with local government and public health stakeholders to narrow down the location and identify a suitable site."

He added: "The NHS Test and Trace service has processed more than 253 million coronavirus tests since the pandemic began.

"Additionally, the service has contacted and identified over 10 million people as recent close contacts since the service began on 28 May 2020.

"This helps us get back to the things we love and enables people to see more of their friends and family, get businesses back on their feet and people in jobs."

Anyone experiencing Covid-19 symptoms - a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste - should book a test using the link here, by calling 119, or by using the NHS Covid-19 app.

Those being tested will be required to follow public health measures, including social distancing, not travelling by taxi or public transport, practising good personal hygiene and wearing a face covering throughout - including when travelling to and from the testing centre.

Anyone attending an appointment at a walk-through testing centre will be provided with guidance on getting to and from the test site safely.