A Harrogate woman has opened up about her coronavirus testing experience to alleviate fears about the process.

Susan Bowers Scarre, a social media marketing professional, went to the testing centre in the car park on Dragon Road, Harrogate yesterday.

She did not have the usual covid symptoms but was asked to get a test as part of a covid research study.

The Stray Ferret has previously reported people having difficulty booking tests but Susan said the entire experience lasted about five minutes and was straightforward.

“I was a little apprehensive because I didn’t know what to expect. I heard before that it was hard to make an appointment but I could have booked anytime in the day.

“The centre was extremely efficient. There were staff at the door who show you to a private room and make sure you know what to do.”

It wasn’t the most pleasant experience: Susan had to swab her tonsils and nostrils but it was soon over.

Once finished, she put the swab into a vial, which then went into a bag and the bag went into a box on the way out.

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So far Susan has not received her results, which she believes to be negative, but she expects them in the next couple of days.

The full-time testing centre in Harrogate replaced the mobile testing centre site in October.

It has the capacity to do 320 tests a day but is currently averaging 200 a day. The centre is made up of a series of floodlit modular buildings.

Harrogate’s first permanent coronavirus testing site is due to open today just over a week after builders moved in.

The Department of Health and Social Care centre is in the Dragon Road car park, which has been home to the mobile testing centre over the past few months. It will test up to 320 people a day.

It has been replaced with a series of modular buildings with floodlights all linked up to a generator to keep it accessible as the nights turn darker.

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After an initial pilot period, it will be open between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week.

That is far more than the previous mobile testing centre. That had generally been open for four hours a day, two days a week.

People will also be able to turn up on foot, unlike at the mobile testing centres. However, tests must still be booked in advance.

Staff making the finishing touches to the testing centre.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, the director of public health in North Yorkshire, said:

“We have worked hard to retain and increase the level of testing across the county, so we are pleased that our efforts have resulted in the creation of these two sites, which will be up and running shortly.

“We will continue to lobby for further expansion of testing facilities across the county.”

The Stray Ferret asked the DHSC the cost of building the permanent testing centre in Harrogate but had not received a response by the time of publication.