New coronavirus testing site opens in Kirkcaldy

A new walk-through coronavirus testing centre has opened in Kirkcaldy today.

It is based at the Overton Community Centre in the town.

The opening comes two days after a community testing site was opened in Cowdenbeath.

Tests at the new UK Government testing centre in Kirkcaldy must only be booked if there are symptoms like a new and continuous cough, high tempearture or loss or change to sense of smell and taste.

Anyone who needs a Covid-19 test must book in advance through the NHS Inform website or by calling 0800 028 2816 on the phone.

Deputy Director of Public Health at NHS Fife Dr Esther Curnock said: "Testing is vital in helping us to identify those who have contracted COVID-19, enabling us to break the chains of transmission by preventing from people from passing the virus on to others.

"The new UK Government site in Kirkcaldy is part of a growing network of testing facilities in Fife and will improve access for local people with symptoms of COVID-19. 

"It remains crucial that anyone with symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of how mild, isolates immediately and arranges to get tested as soon as possible.”

UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart MP said: "The UK Government is doing everything it can to support people in all parts of the UK through the pandemic.

"Testing continues to play an important role how we manage the virus alongside the roll out of vaccines, helping to identify local outbreaks, slow down the rate of transmission and protect communities.

"I would like to thank the public for continuing to do the right thing and come forward to be tested when they display symptoms.

"The UK Government continues to provide the bulk of testing in Scotland, with this new walk-through centre in Kirkcaldy just the latest in our extensive network.

"We have also secured and paid for millions of doses of the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines for all parts of the UK. 

"Hope is on the horizon, but we can’t let up on our efforts to contain the virus."

The Scottish Government's Minister for Public Health and Sport Mairi Gougeon MSP said:

"Containing and suppressing this virus relies on testing being accessible to everyone.

"The walk through testing centre in Kirkcaldy is the 30th site across Scotland and will further increase our testing capacity ahead of potential spikes as we move through winter.

"Centres like this can be operational in a matter of days, and we are working at pace with NHS National Services Scotland and local authorities to roll out more across the country so that more people have access to local testing.

"We will continue to adapt our testing strategy in line with the different stages of the pandemic.

"However, testing is only one effective intervention that we are using to manage the virus and it remains vital that people continue to follow physical distancing advice and practise good hand and cough hygiene not just for their own safety but in order to protect others."