New COVID-19 test centre opens in Â鶹´«Ã½ Published on: 21 August 2020 A new centre to provide rapid access to COVID-19 tests is being opened in Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s West End. The Test and Track Centre on the former Â鶹´«Ã½ General Hospital site will offer residents tests for coronavirus on a walk-in or appointment basis. As part of a national network, the centre will be linked to the national test booking system and will feed results into the NHS Test & Trace system to help control the spread of the virus and protect our population. The centre has been built over the last few days and will begin testing on Friday 21 August. It’s the third such testing facility in the city with a drive-through centre at Â鶹´«Ã½ Great Park and a walk-through centre at Byker. It’s the result of collaboration between the Department for Health and Social Care, Â鶹´«Ã½ City Council and Â鶹´«Ã½. Teaming up to support the community Professor Julie Sanders, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Â鶹´«Ã½, said: “At a time of unprecedented challenges we all need to pull together and our University has an important role to play in supporting our partners, our city and our region. The new Test and Trace Centre showcases the importance of working together to maximise the contribution we can make to our community.” Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Public Health, Cllr Irim Ali, who is also a local councillor, welcomed the new centre. Cllr Ali said: “Testing as many people who develop symptoms as possible is crucial for controlling COVID. We know that members of the BAME community are at greater risk from the virus and this centre will help us get more tests closer to that community. “It’s just the latest COVID-19 testing centre in Â鶹´«Ã½. It will help public health officials quickly contain outbreaks and, we hope, avoid Government lockdown restrictions which is good for local businesses and people trying to go about their everyday lives.” Eugene Milne, Director of Public Health at Â鶹´«Ã½ City Council, said: “This testing centre will support our local outbreak control plan, providing a place for people with COVID-19 symptoms in the local area to access testing. “The site is aimed at local residents without access to a car, enabling them to walk or cycle to the site. Residents with a car should continue to access the drive-through sites. “Where positive cases are identified, the NHS Track and Trace system should then identify those who may have come into contact with the virus to isolate and control any potential local outbreak. Provision across the wider city will be reviewed as the system develops, and further potential testing sites will be assessed." The centre will support the NHS Track and Trace programme announced by Government which is moving towards a more local approach to testing integrated with a national system. This should enable more people to be tested and draw increasingly on local knowledge. People with a new and persistent cough, a temperature, or a loss of taste or smell, can book a testing appointment by dialling 119. Press release with thanks to Â鶹´«Ã½ City Council. Latest News Local knowledge can improve early warnings of glacial lake floods Local knowledge, improved evacuation preparedness and resilient mobile phone-based communication channels can enhance Early Warning Systems to reduce loss of life during glacial lake outburst floods. published on: 3 August 2026 Funding boost moves landmark cancer research centre a step closer A £1.25 million grant from the Wolfson Foundation to Â鶹´«Ã½ has brought the Sir Bobby Robson Institute a significant step closer, giving a major boost to its fundraising campaign. published on: 3 August 2026 Statement on potential unauthorised data access Information about a potential unauthorised data access. published on: 30 July 2026 Facts and figures
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