Sefton’s Covid-19 test sites will be closing this week in line with the Government ending funding for local testing from the start of April.
This means the walk-through PCR test sites for people with COVID symptoms, at Southport Town Hall, Bootle Town Hall, Crosby Library Car Park, Haigh Road and Netherton Activity Centre will all close from this Friday (1st April).
Until then they will be open from 8am to 6pm.
People can book a PCR test by visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119.
Also, the rapid test site for people without symptoms at Southport Splash World closed yesterday (Sunday 27th March).
The Strand site in Bootle will close from 3pm today (Monday 28th March).
The Bootle Town Hall site’s final day is Thursday 31st March when it will close at 3pm.
People who require support with testing can collect LFD test kits as well as get a test and advice, at one of the walk-through rapid test sites until they close.
Drive-through mobile test unit visits to Sefton will also end from this Friday 1st April but are scheduled for:
- Monday 28 at Litherland Sports Park
- Tuesday 29 at Litherland Sports Park
- Thursday 31 at Maghull Town Hall
Mobile Units are open from 10am to 3pm.
Recently Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Ian Moncur, expressed concern that the Government is ending free LFD COVID testing at a time when COVID case numbers in the UK are rising.
Cllr Moncur said: “This could lead to a rise in infection levels across Sefton’s communities and increased pressure on our medical services again.”
Cllr Moncur also said he was worried that the charges for tests could mean households on the lowest incomes will have to decide whether they can afford a COVID test before visiting someone who is potentially vulnerable.
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