‘Don’t drop your guard’ as rapid test sites now available without an appointment

February 5, 2021

The Borough’s three rapid testing sites, available for people without Coronavirus symptoms, are now available without an appointment.

The change means that people can now turn up at one of the three rapid testing sites, and the team will slot them in for a free rapid LFD test. Appointments can also still be booked.

The three rapid testing sites are as follows:

• University Square building, London Road, Southend-on-Sea (entrance opposite Sainsbury's)
  Standard opening hours: 7 days a week 7am to 2.30pm
  You can book an appointment on our website or walk in without an appointment and the team will slot you in.
• St Aidan's Church,The Fairway, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 4QW
  Standard opening hours: 7 days a week 7am to 5:30pm 
  You can book your appointment on our website or walk in without an appointment and the team will slot you in.
• Shoebury Youth Centre, Delaware Road, Shoeburyness, SS3 9NS
  Standard opening hours: 7 days a week 8am to 6:30pm
  You can book your appointment on our website or walk in without an appointment and the team will slot you in.

The council is also trialling a pop-up rapid test site this weekend at the Priory visitor centre (next to Prittlewell Priory House), in Priory Park, Victoria Avenue.  It will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 2:15pm. No appointments are needed and the site is aimed at those who are using the park for their exercise. The pop-up site will be reviewed after this weekend.

Cllr Trevor Harp, cabinet member for health and adult social care, says: “We continue to urge local people to get regularly tested, with or without symptoms.

“This is very important, and particularly if you are going out regularly for essential reasons such as work or shopping for loved ones for example.

“Although positive case rates continue to fall locally, and the vaccine roll-out is going well nationally and locally, we must not drop our guard.

“Regular community testing to stop the spread will continue to be vital in the weeks and months ahead, and we want to remove potential barriers that might prevent people from getting tested. I am therefore pleased that people can now just turn up without an appointment at our three rapid testing centres across the Borough. We are also trying different approaches and will be trialling a pop-up rapid test site at Priory Park this weekend. We will review the success and take up of this next week.

“So please use the test sites available, and continue to adhere to the national guidance. This includes staying at home and only going out for permitted reasons like exercise. Please also remember hands, face, space.”

Visit www.southend.gov.uk/gettested for more information on local COVID-19 testing.