NWN-18062020

Thursday, June 18, 2020 4

NEWBURY NEWS

Newbury Weekly News

Drive-through test site opens at showground Hermitage Covid-19 testing facility provides greater local access

Test scam alert PEOPLE are being warned against possible scams in connection with the NHSrTack andrTace sevrice. ThamesaVlley Police has advised people to be aware and released details of a recent phone call where the recipient is noted as ‘X’. Caller:“Good morning. I am calling from the NHSraTck andrTace sevrice. “According to our system, you are likely to have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. “This means that you now need to self-isolate for seven days and take a Covid-19 test.” X: “OK. Can you tell me who that person wa”s? Caller:“I am not able to do that. That is confidential information. But you do need to be tested within the next 72 hours. So, can I just get the best mailing address so that we can send a kit to you”? X: “OK (gives address).” Caller:“ Thank you. I just need to take a payment card so that we can finalise this and send the kit to ”you. X:“Sorry, a payment card? I thought this was all fre”e? Caller: “No, I am afraid not. There is a one-off fee of £500 for the kit and the test results. Could you read off the long card number for me, please, when you are ready?” X:“No, tha’st not right. This is part of the NHS so there is no cha”rge. Caller:“I am afraid there is. Can you give me the card number please – this

Lynne Doherty (Con, Speen) said: “We are delighted that West Berk- shire has a Covid-19 regional test- ing site at Newbury Showground, which is a good location in regards to road access and size. “The site is already opera- tional and the opportunity to have this drive-through testing site means residents who need testing do not need to travel as far as Oxford, but can access some- thing locally. “The opportunity to have a permanent testing site, as well as mobile testing sites, in West Berkshire is a reassurance to help increase testing for all across the district. “I would encourage all resi- dents to continue to protect each other and our wider community by following the national guide- lines and to use the test centres if you have symptoms.” In addition to the regional test sites, 116 mobile testing units operated by the Armed Forces travel around the UK to further increase access to coronavirus testing. They respond to need, travel- ling to test at sites including care homes, police stations and prisons. New units are being brought into operation each day. The Government has set up a home-testing service, supported by Amazon's logistics network and other commercial partners.

A DRIVE-through coronavirus testing facility has opened at Newbury Showground. The Hermitage site forms part of the existing network of testing sites being set up around the UK. Testing at the showground started on Sunday. Newbury and District Agricul- tural Society board of trustees chairman Alison Brown said: “Everyone connected with the Newbury and District Agricul- tural Society is pleased and proud to have our showground used in such an important way. “Testing is so important for the community and nation.” Anyone experiencing a new, continuous cough, a high temper- ature or a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of smell or taste, should book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119 to find out if they currently have coronavirus. The testing site at the show- ground follows capacity of the NHS/PHE laboratory network increasing, the setting up of 64 regional test centres and 116 mobile testing units, and intro- duced home testing kits. Public Health for Berkshire strategic director Tessa Lindfield welcomed the news of a new regional testing site located in Newbury. She said: “Being able to get a test quickly is critical to the success of the National Test and

Trace Service. Not only will the new test site provide greater access to the residents of West Berkshire, but will also serve our neighbouring authorities in Berkshire.” Anyone testing positive for the virus will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace to help them track their contacts. This will help people to iden- tify who they may have been in close contact with, protecting others from further transmis- sion. The testing centre is being operated in partnership with Mitie and will offer assisted and self-administered tests. Those tested will receive their results within a few days. West Berkshire Council leader Report by JOHN HERRING email john.herring@newburynews.co.uk twitter johnh_nwn “ ...this drive-through testing site means residents who need testing do not need to travel as far as Oxford, but can access something locally

The testing centre up and running at the Newbur y Showground site yesterday(Wednesday)

Ref: 25-3120A

Home test kits can be delivered to someone’s door so they can test themselves and their family without leaving the house. UK Coronavirus Testing Strat- egy national coordinator Profes- sor John Newton said: “This is another opportunity to make testing easily available to anyone who needs it. “Sites like this allow people who develop symptoms to quickly get a test and find out

whether they need to stay at home with their household or can safely return to work or more normal life. “This whole programme has been a great example of collabo- ration between industries and businesses with the public sector to build the capability needed to protect the population from coronavirus.” n Latest Covid-19 death toll, page 6

is very important and there are penalties for not complying.” X puts the phone down.

Police advice is to make sure that f riends and neighbours are aware of the scam. Dial 1471 to get the caller ’s number and pass the details to the police on 101.

LEGIONELLA Inspection, Testing & Cleaning Now that we are returning to our places of work through the Covid-19 outbreak, water systems and water storage have been stagnant, this means a build up of bacteria possibly leading to Legionella within the system.

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The race is on, but behind closed doors for now

Picture by Alan Crowhurst

Racing returns, but not as we know it THIS was the eerie sight at an empty Newbury Racecourse as horse racing returned for the first time in three-and-a-half months last week. It is believed to be the joint longest-priced winner in British flat racing history. The racecourse had not hosted a meeting sinceFebruary 28 due to the coronavirus outbreak. for a three-day fixture, having lost eight fixtures since the start of the pandemic.

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“The team worked tirelessly to get the course ready with all the protective measures in place, including temperature checks on arrival and one-way systems around the course and it all ran smoothly. “The on-course experience of r those few of us who were there was quite strange, with the one missing element being our loyal customers. “Hopefully it won ’t be too long before we can start to welcome people back to the racecourse, but in the meantime to have racing back behind closed doors is a posi-

As this picture shows, the three- day meeting– on Thursday, Friday and Saturday – was held behind closed doors, with no spectators allowed on site. There were also strict controls on everyone who entered the course, including temperature checks, two-metre distancing for jockeys and face masks for handlers. And it turned out to be an historic meeting too – as the 200-1 outsider Intercessor edged out the even-money favourite Naswaary by a head in the 4.10 novice race on Saturday.

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However, when lockdown rules were eased, the British Horserac- ing Authority gave the go-ahead for racing to resume from June 1. The clerk of the course at Newbury, Keith Ottesen, said the racecoursewas taking the contin- uing threat of coronavirus extremely seriously, with a number of measures in place to keep the trainers, jockeys and staff as safe as possible. Newbury Racecourse chief executive Julian Thick said: “It was very positive to see racing return to Newbury last weekend

2m

We are able to work in empty properties and also abide by social distancing rules.

All in line with the EU Disinfection Test standard (1995) for Legionella Serogroup 1(NTCC 11192)

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tive step for us all.” n See sport for more

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