First asymptomatic testing site to open in Fife next week

A new testing coronavirus testing facility - open to people who do not have symptoms - is to open in Cowdenbeath next week.

The facility at the Maxwell Centre will be open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays and 11am to 5pm on weekends.

Four more sites across Fife will open in the coming weeks.

The centres will provide lateral flow testing - which offer results in about 45 minutes - followed by a confirmatory PCR test if the first result is positive.

Dedicated support will be available on-site for anyone who needs help to self-isolate as a result, including advice on how to access financial support and food packages.

Testing at the site is available to anyone who lives in the Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly and Lumphinnans areas, and no appointment is needed.

The centre is the first to open since asymptomatic testing was trialled in Johnstone in December.

Mairi Gougeon, public health minister, said: "Increased testing in this way will help us find and isolate more cases, by targeting resources with communities where there is high prevalence, helping us to identify more cases of the virus and giving us all a better chance of stopping it from spreading.

“However, a test only tells us if we are positive at the point in time that we are being tested. It does not mean that we can stop following all of the rules and guidelines which are in place to protect all of us.

"Testing is only one layer of protection against this virus – all others, including vaccination and the FACTS guidance work to greatest effect when they work together, so it is essential people continue to follow the restrictions currently in place to suppress Covid to the lowest possible level in Scotland.

"This expansion has been made possible as our testing capacity has increased but it could not have happened without the support of our local partners, and everyone involved in Scotland’s testing programme, from diagnostic staff to sample takers, and I want to pay tribute to each and every one of you as we continue to work to suppress this virus together."

Josie Murray, NHS Fife consultant in public health and health protection clinical lead, said: "We know that almost one in three people with Covid don’t have symptoms but are still infectious and able to pass the virus on to loved ones, friends and the wider community.

"By getting tested at a community testing site, you can find out if you are positive and take immediate action to stop the spread of the virus by self-isolating.

"Not only are we helping to protect our family, friends and community, if we can reduce the spread of Covid-19 and continue to follow the other national measures that are in place, we are that one step closer to getting back to doing the things we are unable to do just now."