New Turf Moor coronavirus testing facility up and running

The first coronavirus tests have been carried out at the new Turf Moor testing site today.
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Organised by the Department of Health and Social Care, working with the armed forces and the football club, the temporary facility can accommodate around 250 people each day.

Appointments are required to attend and these can be made through the government coronavirus testing web page - which can be found here.

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People should not contact the club to make a booking, or just turn up.

Burnley Football Club is working in conjunction with armed forces and the NHS to carry out the tests. Photo: Kelvin StuttardBurnley Football Club is working in conjunction with armed forces and the NHS to carry out the tests. Photo: Kelvin Stuttard
Burnley Football Club is working in conjunction with armed forces and the NHS to carry out the tests. Photo: Kelvin Stuttard

The government has recently updated their eligibility for testing. As well as key workers, it now includes anyone showing symptoms, who is also aged over 65 or working at a different place to their home.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health for Lancashire, said: "We know that this situation is a difficult time for people. Through testing we can understand more about the scale of this situation and help us to bring normal life back again, once it's appropriate to do so.

"Mobile testing sites helps us to prioritise certain areas, by adding additional capacity for a short time where it will have the most benefit.

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"By testing key workers and their families if they're showing symptoms, we can keep vital services running at this time and protect the key workers themselves."

The temporaryfacility canaccommodate around 250 people each dayThe temporaryfacility canaccommodate around 250 people each day
The temporaryfacility canaccommodate around 250 people each day

Doug Metcalfe, stadium and operations manager at Burnley Football Club, said the club was proud to continue its support of the NHS.

"The club had previously made its facilities available to the NHS to cope with potential added demands of the pandemic and we remain fully committed to working with the local health authorities in any way to try and combat both the spread and the effects of Covid-19.

"The club also recognises the heroic efforts of NHS staff operating on a day-to-day basis to treat patients and try and cope with the crisis and the threat to public health.

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"We hope allowing the use of our stadium will allow the NHS and the Government to increase testing locally, help to identify those most at risk from the virus and take the next steps to defeating the virus.

"We will continue to work closely with Burnley Borough Council and Lancashire County Council, utilising our strong and close working relationship to support the unwavering efforts of everyone involved."