A NEW Covid testing centre has opened in Poole – at the town's Dolphin Swimming Pool Car Park.

The centre is one of the new walk-through testing sites, only available for people with coronavirus symptoms.

Tests need to be booked ahead and sites have been chosen for their accessibility without the need for a car.

Baroness Dido Harding, interim executive chairman of the National Institute for Health Protection, said: "Walk-through sites offer communities better access to coronavirus testing, so everyone with symptoms can get a test.

"This new site is part of our ongoing work to expand our testing network across the UK which now has the capacity to process more than 700,000 tests a day.

"We will continue to expand capacity to improve test turnaround times and push forward testing innovations to make sure anyone who needs a test can get one.

"Please book a test if you have coronavirus symptoms: a new continuous cough, a high temperature and a loss or change in sense of smell or taste, and follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace if you are contacted.”

Testing at this latest site started on Saturday, January 16.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Lord Bethell, said: "To respond to the coronavirus, we have built a major testing and tracing system from scratch.

"We are constantly working to expand and improve it with new technologies and innovations so everyone with symptoms can get a test.

“New walk-in sites like this one makes it even easier to get a test no matter where you live.

"If you have symptoms of coronavirus, I urge you to book a test today and follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace if you are contacted to protect others and stop the spread of the virus.”

Contact nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119 to book a test.