Ward residents in Southport reminded of SA Variant testing opportunities

Residents in the Cambridge, Dukes and Norwood wards of Southport are being reminded of surge testing taking place to help combat the South African variant of COVID-19.

Testing for the South African variant of the COVID-19 virus is being carried out, both at Mobile Testing Units and door-to-door visits, in all three wards after Sefton Council was notified of two, apparently unrelated historic cases in the area.

The local authority is urging everyone aged 16 or over within the target areas who do not have any symptoms to get a test. Residents of these wards can access a Mobile Testing Unit (MTU) at the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre car park or at the MTU sited the former Kew Park and Ride site on Foul Lane.

Open every day from 8am to 6.30pm, both Units are specifically for identifying cases of the variant and are accessible either via car or walk-in. Residents are advised to arrive before 6pm to ensure they get tested.

Testing is quick and simple, allowing residents to play their part while going about their daily exercise or travelling to and from work.

Volunteers from the local authority and its partners are complimenting both MTU centres with door-to-door testing visits to ensure those who cannot leave their homes are also offered a test.

Any residents who are displaying symptoms or signs of COVID-19 should not attend these sites and instead book a test online, by calling 119 or by using the NHS COVID-19 app.

Sefton are reminding all residents across the borough to continue to follow the national lockdown regulations to protect themselves and others.

Residents should be staying at home and only be going out for essential purposes such as shopping for essential supplies, going to work if we can’t do so from home, providing care and their daily exercise.

When outside in our communities, it is important people ensure they the keep to 2-metres’ distancing, wear masks or face coverings and wash their hands thoroughly and frequently.

For more information about the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sefton, visit www.https://www.sefton.gov.uk/covid-19-in-sefton.