How to get tested for Covid over Christmas & New Year

Even over the festive bank holidays, Covid testing sites will remain open in Blackburn with Darwen. Here’s where you can get tested.

 

PCR tests

PCR tests are for anyone with Covid symptoms. You can arrange a PCR test at:

 

Royal Blackburn Hospital car park, Old Bank Lane

December 25 & 26 – 10am to 2pm

Saturday January 1 – 10am to 2pm

All other days including Sunday 2 & Monday 3 January – 8am to 6pm

 

Penny Street car park, Blackburn town centre

December 25 & 26 – 10am to 2pm

Saturday January 1 – 10am to 2pm

All other days including Sunday 2 & Monday 3 January – 8am to 6pm

 

Railway Road, Darwen

December 25 – 10am to 2pm

Saturday January 1 – 10am to 2pm

All other days including Sunday 2 & Monday 3 January – open 8am to 6pm

 

Pleasington playing fields, Blackburn mobile testing site

Monday 3 to Friday 7 January – 10am to 3pm

 

To book a PCR test in advance, use the national booking system – www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119.

Due to the current high demand for PCR tests, appointment availability may be occasionally interrupted over the next few weeks. If you find the national online booking system is not available when you log in, please keep trying.

 

Lateral flow tests

Anyone who doesn’t have symptoms is encouraged to keep using rapid lateral flow tests regularly. It’s particularly important to take a test before spending time with older or more vulnerable family members over the festive season, to help keep them safe.

You can have a rapid test in person at:

 

Community Help Hub at The Mall, Blackburn (opposite M&S)

Open Mon to Fri 8am to 4pm, EXCLUDING bank holidays

 

The Works, Railway Road, Darwen

Open Mon, Wed & Fri 8am to 4pm, EXCLUDING bank holidays

 

You can also pick up rapid testing kits from pharmacies and local venues like community centres – find out more at www.blackburn.gov.uk/get-a-test.

And you can order rapid testing kits online at www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

 

Blackburn with Darwen’s Director of Public Health, Prof Dominic Harrison, said:

Together with vaccination, testing is one of the most important ways we can keep our local Covid rates under control. By identifying anyone who doesn’t show symptoms but is carrying the virus – and making sure they self-isolate – we can reduce the spread of the virus. This is particularly important at this time of year when people will be getting together with family and friends over the Christmas holidays.

Blackburn with Darwen’s Covid case rate is still below the national average, but cases are likely now to surge across the North West over the next few weeks. The region is about a week to 10 days behind London where there has been a sharp increase in cases and hospitalisations recently.

Please, use rapid tests to check if you’re carrying the virus before mixing with family and friends, or going out to eat and celebrate this Christmas.

Find out more about getting tested for Covid in Blackburn with Darwen at www.blackburn.gov.uk/get-a-test.