In the week leading up to 29 July, Oxfordshire recorded 1515 new cases, a 33 per cent (746 cases) drop from the previous week.

Although Covid case numbers are dropping, Oxfordshire County Council has urged people to test regularly to prevent cases from rising in the future.

There are multiple testing facilities available across the county, which were brought in when cases surged in early July and will remain in place until 13 August.

Ansaf Azhar, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Public Health, has requested residents to take advantage of the facilities while they’re still available.

He said: “This week, we are continuing to see a decline in cases in both Oxford and the rest of the county. However, it is fair to say that case levels remain at much higher levels than they did during the spring and we still hope to drive the numbers down further.

“In Oxford, we still have the additional testing facilities provided by government in early July as part of the city becoming an enhanced response area (ERA) when case levels rose steeply.

“Almost 8,000 people have taken part in PCR testing in Oxford to date. This has had a real impact in reducing our positive case numbers – thank you to everyone who has taken part!

“But, from 13 August, the city is unlikely to remain an ERA, which means the extra mobile testing units won’t be available after this date. So please do take advantage of the testing facilities that Oxford has for the next couple of weeks.

“The message about the importance of testing extends to everyone in Oxfordshire. There are testing facilities throughout the county and the more we all get ourselves tested the more chance we have of stopping Covid in its tracks.”

So where is your nearest Covid test centre?

If you are living in Oxford and would like to get tested for Covid, the options are listed below.

WALK-INS

The mobile testing units are open for business from 10am to 8pm (no appointment is needed):

The venues are:

  • South Park, St Clement’s end (OX3 0HS)
  • The Blavatnik School of Government, Walton Street (OX2 6GG)
  • Manzil Way Gardens, Cowley Road (OX4 1YH)
  • Headington car park, Old High Street, behind Waitrose (OX3 9HP)
  • Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre car park, Pegasus Road (OX4 6JL).

APPOINTMENT ONLY

The testing centres at Oxford Brookes University and Osney Lane are also open every day from 8am to 8pm, including for those without symptoms, but people need to book an appointment as no walk-ins are available.

For those living outside Oxford city, walk-in lateral flow tests aren’t available. However, they are asked to continue with twice-weekly rapid lateral flow testing and book a PCR test if they have any symptoms.

There are five PCR testing centres open seven days a week:

  • Oxford Parkway, near Kidlington (OX2 8HA) – DRIVE THROUGH
  • Woodgreen Leisure Centre, Banbury (OX16 0HS)
  • Osney Lane, Oxford (OX1 1NY)
  • Oxford Brookes University (OX3 0BP)
  • Woodford Way Carpark, Witney (OX28 6JS).

Additional PCR testing sites will be available at additional locations throughout the week. Booking is still required.

  • Carterton Pavilion, Monahan Way, Carterton (OX18 3AN)
  • Cherwell District Council Offices, Bodicote House, White Post Road, Bodicote (OX15 4AA)
  • Chinnor Rugby Club, Rectory Pavilion, Kingsey Road, Thame (OX9 3JL)
  • Wheatley Campus, Oxford Brookes University (OX33 1HX).