Extra Coronavirus testing capacity is being added across the county this week to help with the ongoing efforts to slow the spread of the virus.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin was briefed on work to open up two extra testing sites in her constituency this week – in town centre locations in Pershore and Malvern – alongside plans to open up extra sites across Worcestershire to add capacity to the testing system.

There are currently five testing centres in operation across the county where there is good testing capacity, as well as a key-worker testing centre at County Hall and a mobile testing unit for use as part of the local outbreak plan.

Local people will still need to book a slot, but the new facilities will allow more people to be tested quickly as the Government continues to ramp up its testing capability.

Information on how and where to get a local test can be found by visiting the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.

Harriett said: “The Covid testing system continues to expand and as the Winter approaches, it is vital to have proper testing capacity to make sure that people who have symptoms can get tested quickly.

“The smart phone application is also playing an important part in the way we identify people who have the virus and who they may have been close to.

“Local people have taken extraordinary steps to combat the spread of the virus but we all know that as we spend more time indoors, the risks of contracting Covid-19 increase.

“I know local people will welcome this news and hope that is helps in the efforts to keep the prevalence of the virus low in rural Worcestershire.”