Eight more coronavirus test sites will be operational in Liverpool starting tomorrow as hundreds flock to get tested as part of a massive new programme.
This will take the total of mobile testing sites in Liverpool to 14 as the city moves into the second day of the 'Operation Moonshot' mass testing pilot scheme.
The hope is that as many people as possible will get tested, which will give a much better indication of where the virus is, who has it and who needs to isolate.
This morning, hundreds of people booked in and queued up for their tests, with centres across the city seeing incredible demand on the first day.
Testing started at noon, as long queues of people waited to take part in the first day of Operation Moonshot in the hope that tight restrictions can be lifted in time for Christmas.
Everyone in the city is set to be offered coronavirus tests over the coming days, and the army have been drafted in to help run the test centres as part of the large scale operation.
Two thousand military personnel will be working in the city to support 85 new testing centres around the city.
The mobile testing units are only testing those who are not showing symptoms of Covid-19, and people are being asked not to just turn up to a test centre without a booking.
People wanting a test should book an appointment first at www.gov.uk/testliverpool, via the NHS Covid-19 app or by calling 119.
Originally, nine new centres were set to open on Saturday, but one site was taken off after Liverpool City Council sent out an updated list.
The eight new centres will be open from 7am until 7pm at the following locations and can be booked online from later tonight:
- Lifestyles Walton, Walton Hall Park, L4 9XP
- Lifestyles Austin Rawlinson, Conleach Road, Speke, L24 0TR
- Bridge Community Centre, Daneville Road, L4 9RG
- St Stephen’s Church Hall, Belle Vale Road, L25 2PQ
- Aintree Baptist Church, Longmoor Lane, L9 0EH
- Croxteth Sports Centre, Altcross Road, L11 0BS
- St Johns Market, Liverpool city centre
- University of Liverpool gym, Bedford Street North, L69 7ZN
They are in addition to the six existing sites:
- Lifestyles Alsop Fitness Centre, 1 Walton Village, L4 6RW
- Exhibition Centre Liverpool, Kings Dock, L3 4FP
- Lifestyles Ellergreen, Ellergreen Road, L11 2XY
- Lifestyles Park Road, Steble Street, L8 6QH
- Liverpool Tennis Centre, Wellington Road, L15 4LE
- Lifestyles Garston, Long Lane, L19 6PE
People without symptoms will also be offered drive-through appointments at other mobile testing units in the city, to maximise capacity. As everyone is in a car they are protected from each other.
More centres will be opened in the coming days and it is expected that the pilot will last initially for around two weeks, with a view to it being extended.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “The people of Liverpool did not let us down on the first day and I am delighted that so many people turned out for a test.
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“This is a huge logistical exercise the likes of which has not been tried before, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank people for their patience and understanding as I know many had to queue for a while for a test.
“As we bring more sites online across the city and build up testing capacity there will be more slots available which will make it easier.
“This is a massive project involving many different partners across the city and it is a fantastic Team Liverpool effort so far.”
Director of Public Health Matthew Ashton said: “Thanks to everyone who has taken part so far – it is really heartening to see how the people of Liverpool have truly embraced this.
“With a huge project like this which we have pulled off in record time there are bound to be teething issues and we won’t get everything right.
“We are tweaking and making changes all the time to make the process more efficient for people and must focus on our ambition: to quickly identify people who have the virus and reduce transmission substantially.”
