Assisted Covid tests at local pharmacies

Four pharmacies are now offering assisted lateral flow (LFD) Covid tests for people who feel they need help to do them.

A further seven pharmacies are due to join them soon, in the effort to stop the spread of coronavirus.

This free service is available to everyone, and would particularly benefit

people who are not confident in administering their own tests, with your

test being supervised and processed by pharmacy staff.

NB: This service is only available to people who DO NOT have any Covid-19 symptoms.

The four pharmacies are:

• IQ Pharmacy, 14 Princess Parade, Bury. Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.15pm. Saturday, 9am to 3pm.
• Manor Pharmacy, 367 Brandlesholme Road, Bury. Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm. Sat, 9am to 1pm.
• Forman’s Chemist, 12 Park Hill, Bury Old Road, Prestwich. Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm.
• Fishpool Pharmacy, 14 Parkhills Road, Bury. Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm. Sat, 9am to 1pm.

Tests are available until 45 minutes before closing time.

The results of your test will be sent to you by NHS 119 via text or email. If you don’t have access to these your pharmacy will be able to give you your results.

If you do test positive, you should isolate immediately to help stop the virus spreading and follow guidance provided at Gov.uk - Coronavirus (COVID‑19)

For more information, go to https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=16065

Lesley Jones, Bury’s director of public health, said: “Although most Covid restrictions have been removed, the infection rate in Bury remains very high at around 700. Remember – when we were put into local measures in 2020, the rate was just 16 ! So, while rates of Covid are coming down, it certainly hasn’t gone away, and more people are being infected more than once.

“We are encouraging people to take a rapid lateral flow test (LFT) before going to places that are likely to be busy, or before visiting someone who is at higher risk of getting seriously ill from Covid.

“Around 1 in 3 people with Covid-19 can have and pass on Covid without having any symptoms, even if vaccinated. Testing before going out and about to busy places gives peace of mind that you are unlikely to be infectious with Covid-19, and unlikely to spread the virus.

“The tests take less than 30 minutes for a result and are 80-90% effective in detecting Covid-19 when someone is most infectious.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 4 February 2022.