A new local coronavirus rapid test centre has today (March 10) opened to residents of Radstock and Westfield, up at The Centurion hotel in Midsomer Norton.

Nub News visited the testing site and found a highly efficient and reassuringly easy rapid test process with four testing booths operating from 7am until 7pm six days a week at the location alongside the Westfield industrial estate.

The process is quick and simple with results from the rapid test within 30 minutes. The lateral flow test is open for any key health and social care workers, who are not displaying coronavirus symptoms, to reassure themselves, and those they work with, that they are Covid-free.

Also checking out on the site was the Adult Care, Safeguarding and Public Health Services for B&NES Cllr Rob Appleyard who previously served as a councillor in Westfield for eight years.

He told Nub News: " This is an opportunity for people to have a test regularly. A third of people can actually not show any of the signs of coronavirus.

" What we are asking people to do, is at least once a week, sometimes twice a week, to take a test so that they can to keep reassuring themselves that they are Covid-free. Anyone can come here as long as they are not displaying any coronavirus symptoms.. It is simple and quick.

Although it had only just opened, following a site opening in Keynsham on Monday, everyone at the testing site was operating with hyper efficiency and the process took just minutes to complete.

Cllr Appleyard told Nub News: " This site will be open for as long as it is needed ; as long as it serves a purpose, but we do not know how long that might be. This is part of a support programme for the community and will carry on until the government thinks we are in a position where it is no longer needed.

" We are doing amazingly well in terms of our (B&NES) vaccination process, but until things change this service will be here for residents. It is open for residents from Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Westfield and also from further afield like Paulton.

"Come and test and test frequently - that is our message. "

" What is also really important that if people do test negative, they still need to maintain the social distancing rules, handwashing and wearing a mask. It is not a licence to become much freer and start hugging people, we are still in a very critical time in the pandemic.

" We are getting to a good place, but we cannot take our foot off the pedal. Our numbers have really dropped but it is really dependent on people resisting that urge to crowd into parks once the sun is out."

Also at the hotel ensuring that the first day was working at optimum was the incoming B&NES head of public health, Becky Reynolds, who will be taking over when Dr Bruce Lawrence, the current holder of the post retires next month.

Cllr Appleyard added that he would like to thank all the staff working at the testing area in The Centurion, along with team members in B&NES.

He said: " Thank you for all the staff working here, there is a huge amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to set this kind of operation up. Thanks to all those working here, those who helped organise it and all my staff for all the work that they are doing in supporting all part of the community during this pandemic."

For more details about coronavirus testing you can click HERE : the B&NES rapid test site