1. The purpose of this Technical Note is to update Members in relation to the Council’s Rapid Testing Bus, which is commencing operations.
2. Members will be aware that asymptomatic testing is a vital part of reducing transmission of COVID-19 and is all the more important as restrictions continue to relax. The Council currently operates an asymptomatic testing site at the War Memorial Hall and has been developing additional portable and mobile solutions to increase access to asymptomatic testing across East Dunbartonshire.
3. Officers have developed a testing bus in conjunction with colleagues in Fleet and Property Maintenance, which has involved the adaptation of an existing bus so as to accommodate a testing booth. The new Rapid Testing bus can test one person at a time and is fully accessible by virtue of a lift at the rear. It has been developed to meet both Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland requirements and received clinical sign off earlier this week. A picture of the bus is included at the end of this Technical Note.
4. A new Community Testing Team has been established and a mix of Team Leaders, bus drivers and operatives have/are in the course of being recruited. At present it is planned to maintain the fixed site at War Memorial Hall and supplement this with the Rapid Testing bus and a portable arrangement which will see temporary testing sites set up in local areas for a week at a time.
5. In addition to providing on-site testing, the fixed, portable and mobile units will offer home testing kits which can be taken away.
6. The Rapid Testing bus is undergoing a soft launch and spent time at Mugdock Park yesterday. It will also be located there during the course of today.
7. The focus next week will be to encourage testing amongst children, young people and parents in advance of schools reopening on 12th August. The bus will visit various areas across East Dunbartonshire offering both testing and home testing kits.
8. The schedule for next week is as follows -
|
Monday |
9.30am – 12 Noon (last test 11.30am) |
Barleybank car park Kirkintilloch |
|
Tuesday |
9.30am – 12 Noon (last test 11.30am) |
Chapel St car park Lennoxtown |
|
Wednesday |
9.30am – 12 Noon (last test 11.30am) |
Leisuredrome car park Bishopbriggs |
|
Thursday |
9.30am – 12 Noon (last test 11.30am) |
Barleybank car park Kirkintilloch |
|
Friday |
9.30am – 12 Noon (last test 11.30am) |
Bearsden Hub car park |
9. Going forward, the weekly programme for the rapid testing bus will be published on the community testing section. It will also be publicised through the Council’s social media channels.
10. Finally, members are reminded that the Rapid Testing Bus is for those who do not have symptoms of Covid-19 only. Anyone with symptoms should book a PCR test through the NHS inform website.
