“Don’t squander four week break” warns Public Health Dorset, as Covid testing starts in Purbeck

Purbeck is to get its own mobile coronavirus testing facility, as Public Health Dorset says that the number of Covid cases is beginning to level off, after two weeks of lockdown.

The mobile testing unit will be in the Norden car park – recently renamed Purbeck Park, on Thursday 26th November 2020 and for every subsequent Thursday until further notice.

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This means that Swanage residents who have Covid symptoms will be able to get tested locally by booking a test online via the government website.

Sam Crowe, Director of Public Health for Dorset said:

“We welcome the new testing site at Purbeck Park, which we hope will make getting coronavirus tests more accessible for our residents in the Purbeck area.

“Identifying and isolating cases quickly is critical to controlling the spread of COVID-19. We have been working with partners to identify the best places for new sites to ensure Dorset residents can access testing when they need it.”

Purbeck Park in Norden

A mobile coronavirus testing facility will be at Purbeck Park in Norden every Thursday

The latest Covid data from Public Health Dorset

Confirmed cases in the last seven days from 8th to 14th November 2020.

  • Dorset Council area: 420 (compared to 365 last week)
  • BCP Council area: 947 (compared to 848 last week)
  • South west: 10,989
  • England: 153,873

Seven day case rates per 100,000 from 8th to 14th November 2020.

  • Dorset Council area: 111.0 (compared to 96.4 last week)
  • BCP Council area: 239.5 (compared to 214.5 last week)
  • South west: 195.4
  • England: 273.4

COVID-19 patients in hospital beds in Dorset as of 20th November 2020: 137 (compared to 126 last week)

Sam Crowe, Director of Public Health for Dorset said:

“Over the past few weeks we’ve seen a worrying increase in cases of coronavirus across Dorset and BCP Councils…We’re now a couple of weeks into lockdown. I think we’re starting to see the first signs of levelling off and even a drop in cases, particularly in the BCP council area.

“…it’s going to take a little bit of time to see the impact of the measures but I’m really hoping that we don’t squander that four week break and that we’ll see our infection rates come down. If we see them come down, I’m confident that we can come out on December the second and return to a more normal way of life.”

Watch the latest update from Sam Crowe, Director of Public Health Dorset

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