Highland Council and NHS Highland will work in partnership to deliver increased capacity of lateral flow tests for collection across the region from next week.
Due to the spread of the Omicron variant, increased testing is one way being used to help track the spread and keep the public safe.
Therefore from the week beginning Monday, January 17, pop-up lateral flow device (LFD) collection points will be opened across the region.
The kits will be free to collect and can be used at home with the Scottish Government encouraging people to take a test before going out to a public event or social gathering.
With the increase in the spread of Omicron, testing capacity has been stretched with some areas not being able to supply tests.
The online government service that delivers LFD testing kits to homes was also put under pressure with testing capacity diminished by stock shortages at the start of January.
It comes as Scotland reaches a grim milestone of 10,000 Covid deaths since the pandemic began, with the latest cases still high at 290 for the Highlands.
Lateral flow kits for collection
Packs of lateral flow tests for anyone without symptoms will be available for collection at the following locations in the Highlands:
Monday, January 17
Cradlehall Court, Inverness – 8:30 am-12 noon
Culloden Central Shopping Area – 1 pm-3:30 pm
Wick Riverside Car Park – 10:30 am-12:30 pm, 1 pm-3 pm
Fort William Middle Street Car Park – 10:30 am-12:30 pm, 1 pm-3 pm
Tuesday, January 18
Inshes Retail Park, Inverness – 8:30 am-12:30 pm, 1 pm-3:30 pm
Golspie Fountain Road Car Park – 9:30 am-12 noon
Brora Station Square – 1 pm-3 pm
Broadford Village Car Park – 10:30 am-12 noon
Kyle Station Road Car Park – 1 pm-3 pm
Wednesday, January 19
Telford Retail Park, Inverness – 8:30 am-12 noon, 12:30 pm-3:30 pm
Tain Queen Street Car Park – 9:30 am-12 noon
Dornoch Castle Street – 1 pm-3:30 pm
Thurso Bridge Car Park – 10:30 am-12 noon, 12:30 pm-3 pm
Thursday, January 20
Merkinch Community Centre – 8:30 am-12 noon
Balloan Park, Inverness – 1 pm-3:30 pm
Dingwall Greenhill Street – 9 am-12 noon, 12:30 pm-3:30 pm
Aviemore Retail Park – 9 am-12 noon, 12:30 pm-3:30 pm
Friday, January 21
Inverness Retail Park – 8:30 am-12 noon, 12:30 pm-3 pm
Nairn Falconer’s Lane Car Park – 9 am-12 noon, 12:30 pm-3 pm
Brora Station Square – 9:30 am-12 noon
Golspie Fountain Road Car Park – 1 pm-3 pm
Dr Tim Allison, Director of Public Health with NHS Highland, said: “There is still a high level of Covid-19 within the Highlands and minimising spread remains vitally important.
“When dealing with a disease that can be asymptomatic, such as COVID-19, it is necessary to diagnose cases as early as possible to prevent more people becoming infected without realising.
“The regular taking of LFD tests in our community helps the NHS to find asymptomatic cases and stop the virus spreading.”
If you do have symptoms of Covid-19 then you can arrange for a PCR test by clicking here.