With the introduction of home testing and greater accessibility to testing for Covid-19, fewer people have been turning up to be tested at sites across Bournemouth and Poole.

BCP Council has therefore decided to make changes to its community testing sites.

From 1 June the Poole Stadium test site will be closed. LFD testing will still be available in Poole at the nearby Civic Centre test site. There are also a number of pharmacies in the Poole area providing free home testing kits.

Community testing sites at Poole Civic Centre and Kinson Community Centre will not open on Sundays after 30 May.

Cllr Nicola Greene, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for Covid Resilience, Schools and Skills said: “It’s really important that even though you may have been vaccinated you continue to carry out regular LFD testing to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Asymptomatic testing detects Covid -19 cases early and breaks the chain of transmission.

“We will continue to look at the use of our community test sites to keep testing provision where it is needed.”

Free twice-weekly lateral flow device (LFD) testing is available to BCP Council area residents over the age of 16 who show no symptoms of Covid-19. Children aged 12-15 can access assisted testing if supervised by a parent or guardian.

If anyone shows symptoms of Covid 19 – a high temperature, a new persistent cough or a change or loss of sense of taste or smell – they and their household should self-isolate immediately, and book a PCR test on the national portal or call 119. Everyone must self-isolate until a test result is received.