Pinchbeck COVID-19 testing centre to close just weeks after opening

A COVID-19 testing centre that only opened in Pinchbeck last month is one of three in the county to be closing tomorrow, it’s been announced.

The lateral flow testing site at Four Seasons House on Enterprise Way is not being used enough, Lincolnshire County Council say.

It had opened on Saturday, April 10.

It’s also closing testing sites at Sleaford Town Football Club and Skirbeck Community Centre in Boston from tomorrow (Friday, May 21).

“There is no longer the need for the larger testing facilities across Lincolnshire, as the numbers using these sites are very low” explained Derek Ward, director of public health. “People are tending to use home testing kits rather than the fixed testing sites and we’d encourage individuals to pick up test kits from their nearest collection point, which is likely to be a local pharmacy.

“Some of the additional testing collection points will be closer than you think, linked to supermarkets and stores.

“The test kits allow people to perform their own lateral flow tests, this process is very simple and will give a result in 30 minutes.

“They still remain an important part of testing, helping to identify those people who have the virus and don’t know it, preventing the spread of infection to others and suppresses the spread of other variants.

“Two test kits can be picked up from your closest pharmacy or other collection point and each pack contains seven tests.

“This will give individuals enough supply to perform twice-weekly tests for seven weeks.”

To find where you can pick up a lateral flow test click here.

More details about testing in Lincolnshire are available from the county council here.