COVID-19 testing units offering free Lateral Flow Tests in Ellesmere Port, Blacon and Elton

Free walk-in Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) are available from Cheshire West and Chester Council’s own mobile pop-up COVID-19 testing units which will be located in Ellesmere Port, Blacon and Elton next week.

As of 29 November, the pop-up testing units will be located at:

• Outside Asda, Mercer Walk, Ellesmere Port CH65 0BE. Opening Monday 29 November, Tuesday 30 November, Wednesday 1 December, Thursday 2 December and Friday 3 December each day from 9am until 3.30pm
• Elton Community Centre, School Lane, Elton, Chester CH2 4PU. Opening Monday 29 November and Tuesday 30 November each day from 9.00am until 3.30pm
• St Theresa’s Parish Community Centre, Blacon Avenue, Blacon CH1 5BU. Opening from Wednesday 1 December, Thursday 2 December and Friday 3 December each day from 9.00am until 3.30pm

Fixed LFT testing facilities are also located at the Dingle Centre in Winsford and Stanney Oaks Leisure Centre in Ellesmere Port.

Attendance at any of these testing facilities do not require an appointment and all sites offer home testing kits to take away.

The current approach to testing in the borough is not part of a surge testing programme but is in response to testing where COVID-19 rates are relatively high.

The pop-up testing units will provide a free LFT test to anyone who does not have any COVID-19 symptoms.  This type of test is good at picking up people who have no symptoms but are infected with COVID-19 and so may be unknowingly spreading the disease.

Government recommends that everyone tests for COVID-19 twice a week regardless of whether they have been vaccinated. Free home test kits are readily available at participating local pharmacies or online and are also available to collect at the pop-up testing units.

Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should book a PCR test at: www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

For more information about testing in the borough visit: cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/c19testing.