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11
Sept 2020
Harrogate mum told to drive to Oldham next month for coronavirus test
Two Harrogate parents have voiced their frustration with the coronavirus testing process in the week children return to school.
Both are worried that, without enough testing capacity, covid-19 will spread in schools and children could take it home to vulnerable family members.
There are no permanent testing sites in Harrogate and some people have been sent to testing facilities nearly two hours away.
One mum, who asked to remain anonymous, said she has been shielding after chemotherapy and was reluctant to send her two children back to school this term.
Read more:
- Call for ‘greater vigilance’ amid Harrogate covid increase
- ‘Emotional’ day as children head back to school
Her youngest son went back to school on Tuesday. A couple of days later, he developed coronavirus symptoms so she tried to book him in for a test.
She tried to get a home test but none were available. She tried to book in for one of the coronavirus testing sites, but the closest was in Oldham and the earliest date available was mid-October. She said:
Luckily, her son's school had ten emergency coronavirus test kits which they have used and sent off for analysis. They are still waiting for the results.
No results
Another parent, who also wanted to remain anonymous, managed to get his 16-month-old daughter booked in for a test in Leeds. Two days later, without any test result and with his daughter's condition worsening, the father took her to hospital in Harrogate.
The hospital tested her for coronavirus and a few hours later the results came back as negative.
Both parents have written to Andrew Jones MP calling for more coronavirus testing capacity. The Stray Ferret contacted Mr Jones but did not get a response before publication.
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