Covid-19 mobile testing units will be located in Blantyre and Rutherglen over the coming days.

• Blantyre Leisure Centre from Friday 5 March
• Fernhill Community Centre (Rutherglen) from Monday 8 March

Both mobile testing units will be open every day from 9:30am to 5:30pm.

The mobile testing units at Biggar Golf Club and Larkhall Leisure Centre remain in place until Sunday 7 March.

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.

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 should also self-isolate. They will be called by contact tracers and advised to get a test. They should continue to isolate even if their test is negative.

Asymptomatic testing, that is testing for those who do not have symptoms of COVID-19, continues to be available at Larkhall Leisure Centre, 9:30am to 5:30pm, every day. There is no need to book.

Dr Hyland added: “Wherever you get a test, if your result is negative, it is important that you continue to follow the current guidance including physical distancing, using face coverings and hand-washing to help reduce the risk of spreading the virus.”

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)