A VIDEO revealing just exactly what happens inside a Covid test centre in Darlington has been released.

The walk-through video has been produced for Darlington residents to understand the Covid-19 community testing process.

The Dolphin Centre is one of six testing sites for residents without Covid-19 symptoms in Darlington. 

Some 6,820 asymptomatic Covid tests have carried out in Darlington as part of the community testing in Darlington between December 14 and January 12 this year. 

Five new fast community testing venues have gone live in Darlington from January 11.

These are at the Head of Steam railway museum, as well as community centres in Firthmoor, Red Hall, Heighington and Middleton St George. Tests are also continuing at the Dolphin Centre.

The testing facilities are for Darlington residents who don’t have Covid-19 symptoms.  

Cllr Kevin Nicholson said: “Up to a third of people who have coronavirus display no symptoms, the purpose of community testing is to find people who could be infecting others without even knowing it.

“If you take a community test at one of our locations in Darlington, it will be a lateral flow test. This will involve a hand-held kit that gives a result in about 20 minutes. 

“Community testing has been successful in Liverpool, helping to quickly identify potential asymptomatic cases for immediate isolation and further PCR testing. Cases fell from 635 per 100,000 in mid-October to 99 in mid-December. 

“By sharing a walk-through experience of taking a test, we hope to encourage Darlington residents, especially those who are unable to work from home, to book at one of our community testing sites.

“We are confident, that if we all play our part, the community testing scheme will deliver a success for Darlington.”

Darlington residents are asked to remember that a negative test means they are not infected at the point of the test but could become infectious at any time. 

All residents must continue to follow the hands, face, space guidelines and the national rules on mixing with people. 

Tests are free and appointments must be booked in advance at https://www.darlington.gov.uk/testing/