A new regional covid test centre will open next month and be available seven days a week.
The plan to open the large facility in Runcorn comes after people in the area struggled to get access to a test when they were suffering symptoms of the virus.
It will be located at the Heath Business Park and is expected to open on Wednesday, November 4.
People will be able to book appointments, if they have symptoms, through www.gov.uk or by calling 119.
The new Regional Testing Site in Runcorn is in addition to the existing regional centres at Haydock Park in Newton-le-Willows, and John Lennon Airport in Liverpool.
Julia Rosser, Halton Borough Council’s Public Health Consultant and Lead on Testing, said: “People did experience difficulties in getting a test when and where they needed it during the summer.
"However, both the sites and the laboratory capacity now seem to have improved significantly.
“We are seeing that our sites have availability for testing on a daily basis, particularly at weekends, and would encourage anyone who needs a test to book a test.
“We have worked together across Cheshire and Merseyside to get this right and ensure that testing is easily available to anyone who needs it.
"The sites we now have in place, whether they are regional, local or mobile; allow people who develop symptoms to quickly get a test and find out whether they need to continue to self-isolate.”
In addition to this, the network of new Local Testing Sites gives Directors of Public Health, in each of the nine boroughs in Cheshire and Merseyside, one or more semi-permanent facilities on their doorstep to get local people tested when they need to.
There is also a fleet of nine Mobile Testing Sites which are deployed across Cheshire and Merseyside to help in priority areas and where there are specific outbreaks.
As the Liverpool City Region moved into Tier 3 restrictions the prevalence of the virus meant that more people are experiencing symptoms need to be tested.
More capacity across the national laboratories has also come online meaning it is much easier to book an appointment for a test than ever before.
Testing Director for Cheshire and Merseyside Terry Whalley said: “We now have more facilities and more lab capacity to enable anyone with symptoms to seek a test.
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“We have worked extremely hard with partners, including local councils, laboratories and NHS Trusts to ensure that we have the infrastructure and capacity we need in Cheshire and Merseyside as we see a second surge of Covid-19.
“It is vital that people, who have symptoms, get a test and then ensure they strictly adhere to the self-isolation advice if they prove to be positive.
"Testing helps identify those who are carrying the disease and helps to stop the spread of the virus to others.
“Our ability to offer more routes to access testing will help us protect lives and protect livelihoods by ensuring we are able to do more testing every day.”
