A new walk-through coronavirus testing facility has opened for locals and holidaymakers at the Seagull Inn in Brean.

The new testing site opened on Saturday, May 29 and is only available to those with Covid-19 symptoms – a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

Anyone with one or more of these symptoms can get a test at the site, or by booking a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119. 

The site will operate from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week and will be in place until at least mid-September 2021.

Somerset County Council Director of Public Health, Professor Trudi Grant, said: “The new Test and Trace site at Brean is a welcome addition to our network of testing sites in Somerset and we are really grateful to the owners.

“We know the area is popular with holidaymakers and the area will be busier over the summer holidays, so it’s great that we have been able to set up a new testing site, hopefully making it easier for people to get tested.

”Testing has a key role to play in helping us to minimise the spread of the virus and contain variants.”

David Scott, who owns The Seagull Inn, said: “We are just pleased to be able to help out in this way. The area does get busy, especially over the six weeks in the summer, so hopefully this will prove to be a useful facility.

“And if everything does go according to plan, we will have The Seagull Inn up and running again next year.”

Somerset’s Public Health team are keen for people to enjoy their new freedoms, but to do so safely.  Therefore, it is important to remember the guidelines around Hands, Face, Space and let Fresh Air in, ideally try and spend plenty of time outdoors.

As around one in three people with coronavirus will not have symptoms, everyone is encouraged to test for Covid-19 before they travel. Find out more information about how to access free lateral flow tests here: Coronavirus – Get a test if you do not have symptoms (somerset.gov.uk)