Targeted COVID-19 rapid community testing continues – you can now book appointments at Devizes, Salisbury and Chippenham

Our roll out of the government’s rapid COVID-19 community testing initiative locally to help drive down transmission rates continues, with bookings now being taken for the Chippenham centre.

The programme, in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, is specifically aimed at asymptomatic people at small businesses who cannot work from home, and private early years settings and childminders. Eligible people will take a Lateral Flow Test.

You can book a test at our centres at Devizes Leisure Centre, Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre in Salisbury and now Monkton Park in Chippenham. Another centre will open in due course in Trowbridge but for the time being you can only book a place at Devizes, Salisbury and Chippenham.

The centres cannot accept people dropping in, and everyone must book an appointment and not have any symptoms of COVID-19.

The self-administered test should take no more than 15 minutes and results should be known within half an hour.

This is not to be confused with surge testing. Surge testing is increased testing (including door-to-door testing) and enhanced contact tracing in specific locations in England and is not currently taking place in Wiltshire.

Free testing continues to be available to everyone in Wiltshire who has COVID-19 symptoms – high temperature, continuous cough or loss of/change in taste or smell. You should go online or call 119 to book a test in that instance.

Anyone who receives a positive Lateral Flow Test result automatically activates legal obligations to self-isolate, and may also claim for a Test and Trace payment if they are eligible.

You can book your place on our website, where you will also find additional information, including FAQs.