Get tested!

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Coronavirus updates

Get tested!

Mild symptoms

If you have coronavirus symptoms

Get a PCR test as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms:

  • a high temperature
  • a new, continuous cough
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

You and anyone you live with should stay at home until you get your test result. Only leave your home to have a test.

Anyone in your childcare or support bubble should also stay at home if you have been in close contact with them since your symptoms started or during the 48 hours before they started.

If you don’t have symptoms, take a rapid test

Regular rapid COVID-19 testing if you don’t have symptoms is a fast and easy way to find out if you have coronavirus. 

Everyone in England can now access free, regular, rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) testing.

It’s free, easy and quick. You should get tested twice a week, 3 to 4 days apart.

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

You can get rapid tests to do at home. You can collect up to 2 packs of 7 tests from a local pharmacy or our testing centres or order a pack of 7 tests for home delivery.

Nine in ten pharmacies across England are now distributing free rapid lateral flow tests for people to collect and use at home.

Find a pharmacy where you can collect rapid tests.

You can also use the Government’s new home ordering service, which allows you to order lateral flow tests online to be delivered to your home or collect tests through participating local pharmacies. Find out more on the GOV.UK website.


Local testing

Rapid testing centres

We have four testing stations across Central Bedfordshire for people who don't have symptoms to get tested, which can provide results usually within 30 minutes.

Testing is free and there is no need to book an appointment, just turn up.

Take a smartphone if possible, on which you’ll need to register and be sent your results.

Help is on hand for those who might need it.

You can get tested at any of the following centres. The testing centres are safe and social distancing measures are in place at all times.

Flitwick Leisure Centre - open 7 days a week, from 8am to 7pm.

The Dunstable Centre - open 7 days a week from 8am to 7pm.

Saxon Pool and Leisure Centre in Biggleswade – open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, from 8am to 7pm. 

Leighton Buzzard - Our new mobile test and collect minibus will be at Duncombe Drive car park, Leighton Buzzard four days a week. Monday 9am to 6pm; Tuesday 8am to 5pm; Thursday 9am to 6pm and Friday 8am to 5pm


What to do if you test positive

A positive result means it's likely you had coronavirus when the test was done. You and anyone you live with must self-isolate immediately.

If you did a rapid lateral flow test at home and the result was positive, you should

If you did a rapid lateral flow test at a testing centre and the result was positive, you must 

Wherever you took your test, you should continue to self-isolate until you get the result of the PCR test. Follow the advice you're given when you get the result.

If you do not get a PCR test within 2 days of a positive rapid lateral flow test, you will need to self-isolate for 10 full days even if you get a negative PCR result.

Find out how long to self-isolate

Find out what support is available, if you need to self-isolate.

COVID-19 useful information

Full information is available on our website.


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