Football coach Billy Brown, who won the Scottish Cup with Hearts in 1998, is encouraging East Lothian residents to get tested even if they have no symptoms of COVID-19.

Billy – whose professional coaching career included Assistant Manager roles at Hearts, Bradford City, Kilmarnock and Hibernian – recently visited the COVID-19 testing centre located at the former Stoneyhill Community Centre, Musselburgh. 

The facility is specifically aimed at identifying positive cases among people from East Lothian showing no symptoms of the virus. Getting tested – even if someone has received their vaccination – means they can find out if they are positive, and take immediate action to stop the spread of the virus to others, by self-isolating. In doing so, it contributes to the suppressing of COVID-19 which is key to moving to an even less restrictive way of life.

Almost 1 in 3 people who have the virus don’t show any of the usual symptoms but are potentially passing it on to loved ones and people in the community. While progress is being made in the fight against COVID-19 and with the rollout of the vaccination programme, the virus is still a risk.

Billy, who is now a youth coach with Musselburgh Windsor, said:

“It was easy to take the test and the staff were friendly and helpful.

“It’s really quick so I’d encourage folk to pop along to Stoneyhill – it just means that, even if you feel OK, you can check if you have the virus to stop it spreading.

“It’s important for people to know that it’s possible to have the virus but not show any symptoms.”

No appointment is required and people can get tested more than once. The facility open to everyone from East Lothian as long as they don't have symptoms of COVID-19 - a fever, cough, or loss or change of smell. Anyone who does have symptoms needs to book a test elsewhere.

Opening hours are 11am-6pm (Tuesday to Saturday).

Address: 5 Stoneyhill Farm Road, Musselburgh, East Lothian, EH21 6RN

Mobile testing units also continue to be deployed in a number of East Lothian communities – local people are also able to visit these if they have no symptoms of the virus.

Find out more about testing arrangements in East Lothian.

Published: Monday, 31st May 2021