THREE places in Peeblesshire will be among the next Borders sites offering tests to people without coronavirus symptoms.

On March 13, NHS Borders announced that new community testing centres would be rolled out across the region.

And on Tuesday (March 23), the health board revealed that fire stations in Peebles, Innerleithen and West Linton will be offering tests next week.

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NHS Borders’ director of public health, Dr Tim Patterson, said: “The more we know about COVID-19 and where it currently is; the better able we will be to contain it and limit its spread throughout our communities.

“Although cases in the Borders are low at present, there are still cases out there. We are specifically trying to identify the 33 per cent of cases in which people do not experience the typical COVID-19 symptoms.

“This is why we are particularly interested to offer testing to people who regularly come into contact with others such as those who provide care to family or friends or those who work in essential sectors (e.g. food shops and takeaways, supermarkets, manufacturing or transportation) and do not receive regular testing through another route.”

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The West Linton testing site will open on Monday (March 29), offering tests until Tuesday.

Meanwhile, testing in Peebles will be available from Tuesday (March 30) until Thursday, with tests in Innerleithen on offer between Wednesday (March 31) and Thursday.

Tests will take place between 10.30am and 3pm at the venues, with people able to book ahead by emailing ATS.Service@borders.scot.nhs.uk or calling 01896 826370.

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Elsewhere in the Borders, testing has been taking place at Eyemouth, Coldstream, Lauder, Duns and Galashiels this week, with Selkirk offering tests over the weekend.

Next week, Newcastleton will be offering tests between April 2 and April 3.

Meanwhile, testing will again be available in Hawick (April 2-5) and Jedburgh (April 4-6) – with testing centres having already opened previously in those towns.