Southport Walk-through COVID rapid test centres winding down ahead of Government end date
With the Government ending funding for local testing from the start of April, Sefton Council is winding down the Borough’s COVID 19 Test Centres for people without coronavirus symptoms.
This week
Since Monday 14th March, the hours at Sefton’s Bootle Town Hall, Bootle Strand Shopping Centre and Southport Splash World rapid test centres have reduced to 8am to 4pm, from Monday to Sunday. The Strand Shopping Centre remains open 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
Free, rapid LFD test kits remain available at the test centres.
People who require support with testing can also get their test, and advice, at one of the Centres.
Next Week
From Monday 21st March, hours will be reduced to 8am to 3pm. On Sunday 27th March the Test Centre at The Strand will be open from 10am to 3pm.
During the following week, from Monday 28th March all three sites will be closed with dates still to be confirmed.
PCR tests
For the rest of March, people who do have coronavirus symptoms of a new continuous cough, a fever or a loss of smell or taste, can still get a PCR test at one of Sefton’s four local walk-through test centres.
These are located at Bootle Town Hall, Crosby Library Car Park, Haigh Road, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall and are open every day from 8am to 6pm. They will also close after Friday 1st April.
Drive-through Mobile Testing Units will also be visiting Litherland Sports Park, Maghull Town Hall and Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride through March.
You can find a link to the schedule here.
Book a test
People can book a PCR test by visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119.
Sefton Council is now working to help the people who have been working at its Test Centres through redeployment into other roles.
The Government has informed Sefton Council that it could take up to six months to dismantle PCR test centres after they close.