Coronavirus: Wednesday’s Local Updates

A temporary drive-through Coronavirus test facility has opened in the car park of Harborough Leisure Centre.

The appointment-only service is being run by the Army and will be operating from the site off Northampton Road for the next three days.

Any essential worker or members of their family who are displaying symptoms of Covid-19 can apply for a test on-line, plus anyone over 65 who has symptoms.

Specially trained army personnel are manning the site, with results of swabs taken provided within 48 hours.

A spokesperson for the clinical commissioning groups in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland said: “On 1^st May 2020 a coronavirus testing centre opened at Birstall Park and Ride for eligible people. As part of the local plans, it was agreed that further mobile test units would also be opened in line with local demand. Harborough District Council kindly agreed to make the car park available at Harborough Leisure Centre for a mobile test unit that has opened today.

“The mobile sites are only in place for a few days at a time and people should not go there unless they have booked an appointment and are eligible to be tested. Some employers will choose to refer their employees for a test using an employer referral portal or people can refer themselves by visiting www.gov.uk/coronavirus. They will then be able to book a test online at any of the available locations at the time.

“The full list of people who are eligible to be tested can be found on the Government website www.gov.uk/coronavirus”

Tests need to be booked in advance at www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested

26 people from the Harborough District have sadly died after testing positive for Coronavirus.

The figures, released today by the Office For National Statistics, show 19 people passed away in hospital, five in care homes and two in their own homes.

The death toll locally from Covid-19 is now likely to be higher though, as the latest figures only cover the period up to April 24^th.

Across Leicestershire and Northamptonshire over 600 people have died after contracting the virus and more than 2,600 people have tested positive for it.

Harborough’s bin lorries have been emblazoned with new messages in a bid to help keep people safe during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The government’s Stay At Home – Protect the NHS – Save Lives slogan is being displaying on the sides of the vehicles, as well as contact details for the Council’s Community Hub, which is supporting vulnerable residents across the District.

The charity that operates Air Ambulances across the Hfm Region is today launching an urgent fundraising appeal after losing over £2m because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Air Ambulance Service has seen a massive fall in donations due to its shops – including the one in Market Harborough – being closed, the suspension of kerb-side donation collections and door-to-door lottery and the cancellation of fundraising events.

It hopes to be able to re-open the stores at some point in the future and is looking to raise 22 thousand pounds to pay for adaptions to allow them to trade safely.

That will cover the cost of installing hygiene screens around till points, hand sanitizer stations and social distancing signage and measures.

To support your local air ambulance please visit: www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk or call 0300 3045 999 and donate to help keep them flying.