Sefton is benefiting from two new, walk-through Local Testing Sites, at Crosby Library and Netherton Activity Centre, for people who have the Coronavirus symptoms.
Open from 8am to 8pm, they provide easy access to Covid-19 tests for people who do not have access to a car and for those who have coronavirus symptoms and should not travel by public transport.
Each Test Site has between four and eight testing bays which can each test up to three people an hour. Users will be asked to self-swab when attending and visitors will need to wear a mask or face covering which they will be asked to dispose of in bins provided or to take them home, after the test.
Unlike the three-day Mobile Units, the Local Testing Sites in Bootle and Southport will be open for several months.
August saw the opening of Merseyside’s first two walk-through centres, at Bootle Town Hall and at Southport Town Hall and Mobile Testing Units have been at sites across Sefton on most days since the start of July. This has mean tens of thousands of tests have been provided to people across the Borough .
Testing is only available for those either with coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense or taste – or those who have been asked to get tested by a doctor, public health professional or by their local council.
Anyone with one or more of these symptoms should book a test at one of Sefton’s walk through or mobile test units online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.
You may be advised to isolate if you have been in contact with a confirmed case but you should only get a test if you have symptoms.
By following these simple rules, we can ensure people who need a test can get one. The swab test takes less than a minute and is relatively pain free.
Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council said: “Testing is still a vital tool in helping to overcome the spread of Covid-19 infections across the Sefton Borough and I am delighted we have been able to establish these two new walk-through sites for people with symptoms, in addition to the new Mobile Unit location at Aintree Racecourse earlier this month.
“The opening of the new walk-through centres is the latest important step in ensuring we have accessible testing facilities for the people of Sefton, when and where they need them.”
Cllr Maher added that Sefton Council is continuing to explore more opportunities for test sites across the Borough.
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