Search icon

News

23rd Apr 2021

HSE to roll-out six more walk-in Covid-19 test centres across Ireland next week

Clara Kelly

covid numbers

They will offer testing free of charge, with no appointment necessary.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is set to continue the roll-out of a number of walk-in Covid-19 test centres across Ireland.

The HSE is continuing its test centre programme which will enable people in communities local to the centres to receive a free Covid-19 test without having to make an appointment in advance.

The HSE said it is continually monitoring the need for asymptomatic walk-in testing centres across the country to advise on the most appropriate locations at any given time.

Over the coming days, a number of new centres will open and some of the existing walk-in centres will extend their opening hours.

The service will operate alongside testing for those who are symptomatic or close contacts of a confirmed case of coronavirus.

The new walk-in centres will open in Drumshambo, Co Leitrim on Friday (23 April), and in Tuam, Co Galway on Monday (26 April).

Walk-in testing will also become available at the testing sites in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, Castlerea, Co Roscommon, Nenagh, Co Tipperary and Kilcohan, Co Waterford.

Niamh O Beirne, HSE National Lead Test and Trace, said in a statement that the programme of “targeted testing of asymptomatic people” has meant that those who test positive for Covid-19 can take “necessary actions to protect those around them”.

“Increasing the number of people we test helps us better understand the nature of the transmission of the Covid-19 virus and helps support the strategic approach to identify any variants of concern within our communities,” she said.

“As of Thursday evening, 22 April, over 40,000 people have had a Covid-19 test in one of our walk-in centres. The overall positivity rate to date is 3.3% which equates to 1,261 people testing positive for Covid-19 as a result of getting a test in one of the HSE’s walk-in test centres. “

LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge