Sefton Council is moving its RAPID coronavirus testing centre for people with no symptoms from Bootle Leisure Centre to Bootle’s Strand shopping centre.

From 9am on Saturday 15^th May, people without COVID-19 symptoms will be able to get a test, with a result in as little as 30 minutes, at the town centre location.

Specially adapted

Bootle Strand owner, Sefton Council, has specially adapted the former H Samuel unit in the Strand for people to come along and take a RAPID test safely. It will be open seven days a week.

The Strand site replaces the Bootle Leisure Test Centre, which will close at 5pm on Friday 14^th May.

Tell-tale symptoms

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “Around one third of people with coronavirus do not show any of the tell-tale symptoms so by taking regular rapid tests, we can check if we’re one of these asymptomatic carriers to help make sure we don’t pass on the virus accidentally.

“I’m glad that we can now provide the facility where people can take those rapid tests and collect free home testing kits at this convenient Bootle town centre location.”

Sefton’s other RAPID test site is at Southport’s Splash World.

Results

Rapid home testing kits involves taking a throat & nasal swab, dropping the sample into the container supplied and then checking for the result after 20 to 30 minutes.

As well as both RAPID testing sites, kits are available from any Sefton pharmacy and between 2.30pm and 8pm, seven days a week from the Borough’s walk-through Local Test Centres. These are located opposite Bootle Town Hall and at Crosby Library Car Park, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall and are open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

Relaxed

Cllr Maher added: “Now that lockdown restrictions are being relaxed and more people are going out to their workplaces, going for a drink or meal at a pub or restaurant or meeting up with friends and family outside, taking regular rapid tests is increasingly important to keeping down the spread of COVID.

“Any of us who is regularly out and coming into regular contact with others needs to be taking a RAPID test as often as twice a week.”

Assisted

People who aren’t confident about taking a rapid test at home can choose to go for an assisted test at Sefton’s new Bootle Strand or Southport Splash World test sites.

Cllr Maher continued: “RAPID tests will help to finding those of us who do not show the key coronavirus symptoms of a new persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of sense of taste or smell.

“But it is still vital that anyone who does develop these symptoms or does get a positive test self-isolates for 10 days and immediately books a PCR test by visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or phoning 119.”

Eligible people who test positive are entitled to the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment in the same way as a regular swab test through NHS Test and Trace.

Find out more about testing and self-isolating in Sefton.