Potton business hails rapid testing after two employees test positive despite no symptoms

The manager of a Potton window supplier is urging other local businesses to take advantage of rapid testing for Covid to help keep everyone safe.

Simon Cobb, of family-run Potton Windows, says that getting staff tested is a ‘no-brainer’.

In a new short film, he recommends local firms encourage all their staff to drop in to one of the local rapid testing centres, after two of his own staff tested positive with no symptoms.

Simon describes the whole process as 'very quick and easy', saying that all his staff were ‘in and out within 15 minutes and had results within the hour’.

In the video he said: "The testing keeps the staff and myself safe - without staff we have no business and if we hadn't have done those tests it would have gone all the way through the factory and our families and for that reason we will keep on testing.

"I'd definitely recommend others to get it. For me, it's a no brainer.

"It keeps people safe and it keeps businesses open."

If you do not have coronavirus symptoms, you can get a free, rapid test at any of the centres in Biggleswade, Dunstable and Flitwick, where you can also learn how to do a high-quality test at home and collect a home test kit.

The test centres are at:

> Flitwick Leisure Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick, MK45 1TH. The testing centre at Flitwick is open 7 days a week, from 8am to 7pm. Parking is available at the centre;

> The Dunstable Centre, Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4JD. The testing centre at Dunstable is open 7 days a week from 8am to 7pm. Parking is available at the Grove Park car park, in front of Go Bowling, and will be free while it is being used as a testing site;

> Saxon Pool and Leisure Centre, Saxon Drive, Biggleswade, SG18 8SU. The test centre at Biggleswade will operate on a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, from 8am to 7pm. Parking is available at the centre.

These test sites will be operating until the end of April 2021.

Executive member for health and well-being, Cllr Tracey Stock, said: “Our community testing centres have carried out over 11,000 tests and found 41 people who were positive for Covid-19 despite having no symptoms.

"This means 41 local residents are now able to take action to protect themselves, their families and everyone around them, reducing the spread of infection.

“With around one in three people who have coronavirus showing no symptoms, regular rapid testing is vital for those individuals who have regular contact with people who are not part of their household or bubble.

“Regular testing will help identify more people who have COVID-19 and help to reduce the spread of the virus as they will know how to self-isolate."

You can also use the Government’s new home ordering service, which allows people to order lateral flow tests online to be delivered to their home or collect tests through a new ‘Pharmacy Collect’ service where people aged over 18 without symptoms will be able to visit a participating local pharmacy and collect a box of 7 rapid tests to use twice a week at home.