Self isolation support in place at Fife's first asymptomatic COVID test centre

The initiative is up and running at the Maxwell Centre. in Cowdenbeath for residents of the towns as well as Lochgelly and Lumphinnans.

And with self isolating the result of a positive test, Fife Council has put in help for people unable to work or get to the shops.

Dedicated confidential support will be available onsite, providing advice on accessing different financial support alongside help with more practical issues.

There are also grocery bags available with basic supplies to keep the whole family going if you need to go home immediately and self-isolate.

Nigel Kerr, head of protective service in Fife, said: "We know that there are a lot of people who aren't self-isolating simply because they don't know they are Covid positive.

“There are also others who may be worried about taking a test because they are worried about the impact of self-isolating on their job, finances or family.

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“We understand that being asked to self-isolate at short notice can present you with a lot of problems.

“Not everyone may be lucky enough to have family, friends or good neighbours nearby who can help with things like getting groceries or picking up prescriptions. Some people are only a week’s wages away from absolute poverty and can’t afford not to work.

"We don’t want these things to be a barrier to people getting tested and that's why we have put so much support in place, directly in the centre. We are here to help support you if you need to self-isolate.”

One in three people who test positive for Covid-19 don't have any symptoms - this means they can be spreading it to family and friends without knowing.

The Cowdenbeath site is just one of five pop up sites which NHS Fife and Fife Council are rolling out in different areas in the coming weeks, along with additional mobile testing units.

The centre is open from 9:00am to 8:00pm Monday to Friday and 11:00am to 5:00pm Saturday and Sunday initially.

Appointments are not necessary for this drop-in service.

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