Town Hall covid testing ends next week

Sefton’s COVID-19 test sites will be closing next 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 Bootle Town Hall, Crosby Library Car Park, Haigh Road, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall will all close from 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 sites for people without symptoms, at Sefton’s Bootle Town Hall, Bootle Strand Shopping Centre and Southport Splash World, will be closing. Until they do people can still visit them to collect free, rapid LFD test kits.

The Southport Dunes site will close from 3pm on Sunday 27th March.

The Strand site will close from 3pm on 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 Friday 1^st April but are scheduled for:

• Friday 25 Maghull at Town Hall
• Saturday 26 at Southport Esplanade Park and Ride
• Sunday 27 at Southport Esplanade Park and Ride
• 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.

He said:

“Those least able to pay are being put at the most risk with a greater chance they might unknowingly passing on COVID to those vulnerable relatives, friends and colleagues.”