AN elderly couple who called in for a COVID-19 test at Lymm were disappointed to learn that fewer people are bothering to get tested in the village than elsewhere in the borough.
During a four-hour period during which Warrington Borough Council had four members of staff manning the testing centre at Lymm Village Hall, only 10 people had dropped in for a test.
Hundreds of shoppers had passed, many had stopped and stared but most had walked on.
One of the team told the couple: “We are not getting a good response in Lymm – it has been much better at other places we have been.”
Warrington has two main symptom-free testing sites – at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and at Grappenhall Parish Centre – and four other “pop-up” centres at Lymm, Croft, Birchwood and Burtonwood.
Testing is free and only takes a few minutes.
Thara Raj, Warrington’s director of Public Health, said: “Around one in three people who have coronavirus don’t display any symptoms. Since the first symptom-free testing sites opened in January, we’ve identified and isolated thousands of coronavirus cases in the community. It is important, now more than ever as restrictions ease and people leave home more, that we continue with this work and people get tested regularly.
“To make testing more accessible, you can order tests online to be delivered to you, collect them from local sites to do at home, or visit one of our symptom-free testing sites.
Testing is quick and free, and there’s no need to book an appointment – just drop-in to any site during the opening hours.
“I would urge everyone who is leaving home to go to work, shop, or meet with friends and family outdoors, to get tested regularly. “Alongside remembering the basics of hands, face, space, and fresh air, regular testing is the best way to reduce the risk of virus transmission. Find out more about getting tested at warrington.gov.uk/TestandTrace.”
The Lymm centre is open on Wednesdays from 1pm to 7pm.
3 Comments
When no one knows that there is a COVID testing site in Lymm how you would go?
Well it has been publicised on here previously and widely on local social media – and you have managed to see this?
Now I know about it I will go, flyers through peoples doors would help.