Second Darwen rapid testing venue opens up

A second Darwen venue offering residents access to rapid coronavirus tests has opened up from this week.

The extension to Blackburn with Darwen Council’s SMART testing programme – aimed at people without coronavirus symptoms – sees the new community venue – based at Work at Over Darwen House, 22-26 Railway Road, BB3 2RG – joining the list of other sites offering rapid lateral flow tests across the borough.

Following feedback from local businesses and residents it has also been announced that the opening times of the SMART testing hub at Ewood Park will also change from Monday, March 1 to 8am-3pm (Mon-Fri)

SMART hubs now operating at:

• Ewood Park (Darwen End) open: 11am-6:30pm (Mon-Fri) then: 8am to 3.00pm (Mon-Fri) from March 1.
• King George’s Hall, Blackburn open: 10am-5.30pm (Mon-Fri)
• Earcroft Children’s Centre (Monton Road, off Blackburn Road, Darwen, BB3 0AF) open: 9.30am-3.30pm (Mon-Fri)
• Work at Over Darwen House, Railway Road, Darwen BB3 2RG open: 9.30am-3.30pm (Mon-Fri)

Testing at all of the SMART hubs is targeted at residents without symptoms who have to leave home to work during the lockdown.

With infection rates remaining high those living in the vicinity of the hub sites are also encouraged to attend.

Pre-booking isn’t required, visitors can walk in and give a mobile number or email address to register.

Rapid tests are aimed at finding people who may have no symptoms but are infectious. Also known as a Lateral Flow Test, the results can be given in around thirty minutes, as they don’t need to go to a laboratory for testing.

The local SMART testing programme will remain a key tool in the local response to the virus following the Government announcement on its roadmap for cautiously easing the current lockdown restrictions.

More information and FAQs can be found here.

Councillor Mohammed Khan, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:

Our SMART testing programme gives easy access to those without symptoms having to leave home for work as well as those living in the targeted areas with higher levels of infection.

Following the Government’s announcement we know increased testing together with the vaccination roll-out remains one of the ‘key weapons’ in the battle against the virus and our ability to pass the four tests and move through the different stages of easing.

One in three people with coronavirus do not have any symptoms and can pass on the virus without knowing it. So the future is in our hands – we need people to get tested to break the chain of transmission. If we don’t lockdown lifting could still be delayed. I’d therefore encourage even more people from the target groups to utilise these hubs, get tested and help us.