A new symptom-free Covid-19 testing centre has opened in Wirral to help stop outbreaks.
The centre is based in Liscard’s Cherry Tree Shopping Centre, providing a convenient place for residents, shoppers and local workers to drop-in for a rapid lateral flow test or to collect a free home testing kit.
It comes as the infection rate in Wirral continues to rise, currently, they are at 492.4 per 100,00 with 1,597 new cases in the seven days to December 11.
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That's up from 1,291 people (398 per 100,000 people) in the week leading up to December 4 and puts infection rates above those in Liverpool, which is currently at 468 per 100,000 people.
There is no appointment necessary at the new facility and you can just walk in for a test seven days a week; 9am - 4.15pm, Monday to Friday and 10am - 3.15pm, Saturday and Sunday.
Wirral’s director of public health, Julie Webster, said: "Hundreds of people in Wirral are testing positive for COVID-19 every day - so we must all do what we can to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities.
"Regular testing is vital for us to stop individual cases from turning into outbreaks - causing harm to others, disrupting businesses and local services.
"One in three people who have COVID-19 shows no symptoms but can still pass the virus on to others.
"So, even if you feel well, you should still take a free lateral flow test before meeting anyone who is at risk - or before socialising, going to events, visiting busy workplaces, or shopping.
"We have had a fantastic level of vaccine take-up in Wirral, thanks to residents, community groups, businesses and NHS all playing their part to keep Wirral well. But there is more work to do ahead of the Christmas period and that includes us all testing regularly to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.
"Regular symptom-free testing should be used alongside the other precautions we know keep us safe - such as wearing face-coverings indoors and regular hand washing. As COVID-19 is an airborne virus, it is also safer to meet outdoors if possible and to open a window when indoors to let in the fresh air.
"We now know that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is highly transmissible and has the potential to put enormous pressure on essential services this winter. To stop the spread of infection, I urge all residents to continue doing all the things that we know keep us safe – and to follow the new Plan B guidance."
For more information about the opening times, special Christmas time openings and locations of all testing facilities in Wirral visit wirral.gov.uk/testing.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you MUST self-isolate and get a PCR test. More information is available at wirral.gov.uk/testing.
If you visit a symptom-free testing centre and test positive you must self-isolate. Guidance and support to do so is available at wirral.gov.uk/covidpayment
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