Wirral Council has introduced a booking system at its symptom-free testing centres so as to prioritise testing for key workers and anyone else who simply cannot work from home during the national lockdown.

The borough currently has four symptom-free testing centres in New Brighton, Greasby, Eastham and Birkenhead and has seen a huge increase in the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 since Christmas.

The move to introduce a booking system is in line with Government guidance and is designed to provide additional reassurance and support to those key workers such as school and college staff, delivery drivers and supermarket employees as well as unpaid carers so they can protect themselves and their loved ones and help stop the spread of coronavirus. Anyone who can stay at home, should stay at home during the national lockdown.

Councillor Yvonne Nolan, Chair of the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee for Wirral Council said: "When we launched symptom-free testing in early December, the people of Wirral fully embraced the opportunity to get a test and help us identify those who may unwittingly be carrying the virus.

"However, we are now in a national lockdown and residents should not leave home unless undertaking an essential journey or because they simply cannot work from home. Key workers have to leave home each day to work and it is those people who we must now support and protect. It is why we have introduced priority booking at our symptom-free testing centres to ensure they are able to plan a test around their working day."

"The booking system prioritises key workers and those in essential roles who do not currently have access to symptom-free testing as part of their job and will give them greater reassurance that they are staying clear of infection and provide an early indication if they have caught COVID-19 but do not have symptoms. They can then self-isolate and get tested at one of our symptoms only testing centres. If they test negative, we encourage them to regularly get tested, leaving at least five days between tests."

To book an appointment at Wirral's symptom-free testing centres please click or tap here.