You can submit your questions to us at the bottom of this article. 

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If someone is unable to attend any of the test centres, can they order a PCR test online?

Yes, they can, by visiting www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/surge-testing/ and completing the form.

Buckinghamshire Council will then send a test out to their home address.

If people live in the area – can they still go to work, send their children to school, go about their usual business -  while the testing is taking place?

Yes, they can, but they must ensure they are following the current COVID guidelines.

What should people do if they have symptoms of COVID-19?

If they do have symptoms, they must not attend any of the Mobile Testing Units.

If they want to take a test they will need to visit the Government website and order one to be delivered to their home: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119.  

Should people be tested if they have had a COVID-19 vaccination or have had COVID-19?

Even if they have been vaccinated or previously had COVID, they should get PCR tested.

We know that no vaccine is 100% effective and that even after infection by the virus, some people get re-infected.

This is particularly important as we need to find out whether any of the new variants are better at escaping the immunity given by vaccines or previous infections.

What do we do with the test results?

Anyone who has a positive test will be notified in two or three days by text, email or phone call (whichever details you gave when you took the test).

All positive tests will be sequenced to identify any further spread of the new variant first discovered in India.

This will enable a better understanding and identify if there are any more cases of this variant in the area.

If someone tests positive, will they need to self-isolate and for how long?

Yes, they will need to self-isolate for a period of 10 days from the date of their positive test.

Do children need to be tested?

Yes, all children who are 11 years or older are also tested. 

Children under the age of 16 will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

If someone already does ‘rapid testing’, ‘workplace testing’, ‘lateral flow testing’, ‘school based testing’ do they need to get tested?

Yes, this is a PCR test which if it is positive is then genetically sequenced to see if the Variant is present.   

The tests used for ‘rapid testing’, ‘workplace testing’ ‘lateral flow testing’ and ‘school based testing’ are different and cannot be genetically sequenced to see what variant is present.