Hartlepool residents without Covid symptoms who test positive must book a second type of test

A Covid Test and Collect Centre for people without symptoms of the virus has recently opened in Middleton Grange Shopping Centre.

But health bosses are reminding anyone who tests positive that they must then go for another, different type of test to confirm the result.

Alongside the national vaccine roll-out, the Government is encouraging all adults who don’t have symptoms to get tested twice a week, even after they have been vaccinated, to help flag up any variants.

Anyone without symptoms who tested positive for Covid-19 must arrange to get a further test called a PCR test at a dedicated testing centre.

Craig Blundred, Hartlepool Borough Council’s director of public health, thanked people who are regularly tested and added: “But it’s really important that if you do test positive in your lateral flow test, you then get a PCR test straight away to confirm the result and complete the process.”

The Covid Test and Collect Centre, open from 9am to 5pm, can be found on the ground floor in Middleton Grange, near WHSmith, with results available within 24 hours and in most cases within the hour.

People can also drop in to collect free home testing kits.

PCR testing sites for those who test positive are to be found in the Sandy Car Park (the former coach park) at Seaton Carew and The Waterfront (formerly Jacksons Landing) on the marina.

People can book a PCR test at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

For more details about the Middleton Grange testing centre, visit www.hartlepool.gov.uk/covid-test-and-collect.

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