A mobile Covid-19 testing unit will be situated in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, from Saturday 27 February.

The unit will be located at Biggar Golf Club and will be open Monday to Sunday from 9.30am to 5.30pm.

Dr Jackie Hyland, NHS Lanarkshire Consultant in Health Protection, said: “Covid-19 can be spread by people who don’t have symptoms or the symptoms are so mild people may not recognise that they have the infection.

“For the benefit of yourself and your community, I would encourage as many people as possible to get a test. The test results will help to detect the virus and limit its spread.

Tests can be booked in advance at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test, scroll down to the ‘start now’ button, or telephone 0800 028 2816.  Anyone booking a test online should select the ‘taking part in community testing’ option.

The booking system for the Biggar site will open from 6pm on Friday 26 February.

Staff will be on hand to provide advice about the test and result process. The swab test takes less than a minute, is relatively pain-free, and you should receive your result within 24-48 hours.

If you test positive you will be contacted by NHS Scotland tracers. They will let you know how long you and your household should self-isolate for and help you identify who you have been in contact with, protecting others from further transmission. They will also provide you with details of how to get additional support during self-isolation.

Your close contacts will also hear from contact tracers, asking them to stay at home for 10 days to prevent them from unknowingly spreading the virus. They will be advised to also book a test if they develop symptoms.

It is important that everyone continues to follow the national FACTS guidance:

• F – face covering
• A – avoid crowded places
• C – clean hands and surfaces regularly
• T – two metres distance from other people
• S – self-isolate and book a test if you have covid-19 symptoms (new continuous cough, fever or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste)