Statement on temporary Covid-19 testing site at the Stade

Over the weekend a Covid-19 mobile testing unit was set up and operated on the Stade.

Hastings Borough Council was asked some time ago by, Public Health at East Sussex County Council, to identify a suitable location for a temporary COVID testing station in the town.

A number of sites were looked at with military advisers but only one, the Stade open space, met the strict criteria, and faced with the alternative of not having a testing station at all, we agreed it could then be used on an occasional basis.

The council were told that all publicity about the site was to be undertaken by the organisers.

Darrell Gale, Director of Public Health for East Sussex County Council, said

"I want to reassure the local community that they were not exposed to greater risk by the temporary Covid-19 testing centre at the Stade over the weekend. These mobile testing units are a vital component of our effort to manage the pandemic in East Sussex. They provide quick and easy access to the local community to a testing facility, reducing the need for people to travel long distances to a testing station.

"Symptomatic people will only be accepted if they are in a car. Those on foot are likely to be asymptomatic essential workers, who pose no more risk there than if they went shopping or anywhere else.

"Those who book a test are instructed to take precautionary measures, in line with our guidance, to reduce the risk of infection"

Cllr Kim Forward, leader of Hastings Borough Council, said

"The Stade is an accessible location for a local testing station for Hastings and its communities. Despite it not being our preferred choice of site, these testing sites are very important in the ongoing management of coronavirus and benefit the local community and wider population. The ability for local people and key workers to be tested locally is very important to help keep vital services operating.

"We understand that some people have concerns about this location and potential risks, but this is why the precautions that the government, NHS, Public Health England the council have been communicating about washing hands, wearing face coverings if possible and keeping social distance are essential to us all staying safe."

Marc Clothier, T/Superintendent, Sussex Police and Sussex Resilience Forum Tactical Chair, said

"The provision of mobile testing has been coordinated by the Sussex Resilience Forum - which brings together local government, the emergency services, the NHS and other public agencies from across Sussex to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic - and ensures that we are able to provide capacity in areas needed most. We continue to work closely across all of our partnerships to ensure there is good capacity to protect the public during our response to and recovery from Covid-19."

The council, with partners, will continue to look for alternative suitable sites for the pop-up testing unit to be hosted in the town. However, in the interest of public health, paramount importance will be that the town can host mobile testing sites when they are needed.