Bedford residents experiencing problems booking Covid tests as cases rise in town

As coronavirus cases rise in the town, Bedford Borough Council is urging residents to keep taking precautions to reduce the spread of the virus.

The advice comes at a time when people are having problems booking a test - both in the town and nationally.

Along with health leaders across the country, the council is urging people to follow the hands, face, space advice - and if you have any of the symptoms including a new persistent cough, high temperature or loss of smell or taste to self-isolate and get tested.

Tests can be arranged by visiting here or calling 119. However, the service has been busy at times, with people being told there aren't any tests available.

The problems seem to be due to capacity issues in the laboratories the government uses to process the results.

And the advice is if you don't have COVID symptoms, don't book yourself a test.

New testing slots are added hourly, so keep checking, and self-isolate while you do so. The Government has advised that additional laboratory capacity is being added, but in the meantime, areas of the country where there are significant outbreaks are being prioritised.

People are also required to stay at home if anyone in their household has COVID symptoms, or if they have been told they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive. Anyone living with someone with suspected COVID must not leave the home for any reason for 14 days from the time that their family member or housemate started showing signs of the virus.

Louise Jackson, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing at the council, said: “Cases of COVID-19 are rising across the country and Bedford borough is no exception.

"Things to look for are a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a change in your sense of smell or taste. If you have any one of those symptoms, don’t leave the house at all, book a test and then self-isolate for 10 days or until your test result gives you the all clear and please do keep trying if you have problems booking, as new slots will become available.”