A Covid test center in Newark is being replaced by a mobile test site.
The city’s rapid mass testing center at the Newark Fitness and Sports Center on Lord Hawk Way will close later this month.
It’s being replaced with a new mobile website that comes to Newark every Wednesday and Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Newark Sports and Fitness Center (44453544)
The changes are part of plans to make regular Covid-19 testing a part of residents’ weekly routine and allow the sports and fitness center to reopen fully in May.
The location of the new mobile website has yet to be confirmed, but Newark and Sherwood District Council said they are looking at various locations in the city center.
Southwell location (46612607)
David Lloyd, chairman of the council, said anyone could get a supervised test at the mobile site, and the resident could also pick up a home test kit.
“The mobile test site option has proven very effective in Ollerton and is now being rolled out in Southwell every Monday and Thursday,” said Lloyd.
“It makes sense to replicate this low-cost solution in Newark after the sports and fitness center prepares to reopen.
“The mobile solution is particularly suitable for Newark and provides our residents with a convenient way to either receive a supervised test or collect their kits for home testing.”
Regular bi-weekly testing is a cornerstone of the government’s roadmap.
Nottinghamshire director of public health Jonathan Gribbin said it was important that residents continue to have tests twice a week.
“Testing twice a week is really important,” he said.
“If you don’t have symptoms, we can do additional things to make us, our families and communities safer.
“There are now more than 100 different places in Nottinghamshire to pick up free home test kits, including pharmacies and testing centers.”
Anyone over 18 can pick up or order test kits to take at home.
For more information on how to make Covid-19 testing part of your regular weekly routine, please visit www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/covidtests