WALK-IN testing facilities in Poole and Christchurch will be available to residents every day from mid-January.

The sites at Dolphin Swimming Pool car park and Two Riversmeet car park are currently visits around twice a week by a mobile testing unit.

Public Health Dorset said the two sites, along with Swannery car park in Weymouth, will have testing available every day, starting in a couple of weeks.

Rachel Partridge, assistant director of public health for BCP and Dorset, said: “We welcome the news of the walk-in sites at Weymouth, Poole and Christchurch being available every day for residents who don’t have access to private transport. We are always reviewing our testing sites to make sure we have enough access to testing for residents who need a COVID-19 test.

The walk-in sites will be available to book on the online portal by visiting gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or calling 119.

Home testing kits are available for those who cannot get to a testing site.

Anyone who develops the Covid-19 symptoms of a new, continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss or change of taste or smell must self-isolate and book a test.

Cllr Nicola Greene, BCP Council’s cabinet member for Covid resilience and public health, said: “It’s reassuring to know that local residents can access testing quickly and easily should they need it with the introduction of the walk-in sites.

"It is really important to have testing available to those who need it. If anyone develops coronavirus symptoms, do not hesitate, book a test online or over the phone.”

Cllr Laura Miller, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for adult social care and health, said: “it’s great news that the walk-in sites will be available every-day from January. We are still very much living with COVID-19 so it is important that testing is accessible to everyone.

The full list of testing sites available in Dorset are:

  • Bridport
  • Dorchester
  • Swannery Car Park, Weymouth
  • Purbeck Park
  • Hawkwood Road, Boscombe
  • Wallisdown, Bournemouth
  • Lansdowne, Bournemouth
  • Creekmoor, Poole
  • Dolphin Swimming Pool Car Park, Poole
  • Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre, Christchurch

Each site will be made available to book, subject to the schedule location of mobile testing facilities for some sites and available capacity.

The Wallisdown testing site will be out of use to the public during January to help students safely return to Bournemouth University and Arts University Bournemouth from the Christmas break.