New community coronavirus testing site opens in Dunfermline today

A new community coronavirus testing site is opening in Dunfermline today.

It will be located at the Tryst Centre in the town's Duncan Crescent.

The facility will provide testing for local members of the public without Covid-19 symptoms, but who could still be unwittingly transmitting the virus.

It's hoped cases can be identified and that can result in a reduced spread of coronavirus.

Testing will be for people in the town and those living in surrounding areas, with opening hours of 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday.

Josie Murray, NHS Fife Consultant in Public Health and Health Protection Clinical Lead, said: "Over the last few weeks a number of sites have opened across Fife providing COVID testing for members of the public.

"Testing is a really important part of our response to COVID, alongside the vaccination programme.

"We are using the most up-to-date data to determine, firstly, where there is a testing need and, secondly, which kind of testing provides the most benefit to particular communities.

"That might be local access to testing for those with symptoms, community testing for those without symptoms or a combination of both.

"One in three people with COVID don’t display symptoms and by asking the local community as a whole to get tested we can get a clearer picture of cases within the area.

"Through the identification of positive cases and having people self-isolate if they do have the virus, we can reduce the spread and protect our loved ones, friends and the wider community."