St Mary s Market testing centre RESIDENTS are being encouraged to do twice-weekly rapid coronavirus tests for people with no symptoms. This symptom-free testing - known as lateral flow testing - is an important tool for easing restrictions and stopping outbreaks of Covid-19. About one in three people who have coronavirus don t get symptoms and may unintentionally spread the virus to others. If you do not have symptoms, you can access symptom-free tests by: • Collecting at-home test kits from your local collection testing site or pharmacy collection site • Ordering lateral flow tests online, if you cannot order online call 119 • Attending a symptom-free testing site for a supervised test.
A MOBILE testing van will be set up in two parks on Saturday as part of a Covid-19 pilot testing programme. Visitors will be able to visit Mesnes Park in Newton-le-Willows on Saturday and Taylor Park on Sunday between 10am and 3pm for a lateral flow test. Residents can either get a supervised test at the testing van or take home a free rapid test kit for later use. Sue Forster, director of public health at St Helens Borough Council, said: “If you’re out in these parks this weekend please consider visiting the mobile testing van. “A negative test can give you peace of mind that you’re not unknowingly contributing to the spread.
YOUNG families are being urged to follow Covid-19 guidance after a noticeable spread of cases among school age children and their families. As reported by the Star last week, Covid infection rates across St Helens have fallen considerably since the start of the year. In recent months the case rate has fallen from 870 per 100,000 people to 21.6 per 100,000, and the situation at hospitals is much-improved. However, public health leaders have issued a message of caution, urging residents across St Helens to remain vigilant and act within the guidance after a noticeable spread in the last ten days (March 29 to April 7), predominantly in school-aged children and their families.
• St Marys Indoor Market, St Helens Town Centre • Chester Lane Community Centre, Sutton Manor • Grange Valley Youth Centre, Haydock Each household can regularly collect up to two boxes of seven tests from local collection points to support twice-weekly testing. There is no need to make an appointment to collect a test kit – the sites are operating on a walk-in basis. The council has said people cannot visit a collection site outside of the hours stated above, as they could be used to test people with coronavirus symptoms outside of these times. People must be aged over 18 years to collect a test kit.