Wirral symptom free testing paused due to 'incredible demand'

Yesterday Heswall Nub News reported from Greasby Library where a long queue of people eager to take a symptom free COVID-19 test had formed.

Most wanted to be checked out before Christmas Day get togethers, and were prepared to wait two and a half hours.

Today, the demand there and at Wirral's other testing sites took its toll.

The service has been paused.

Wirral Council said it had "taken the difficult decision" to temporarily close all its symptom-free testing sites.

A statement on the council website said: "Our sites have experienced incredible demand for symptom-free testing this week and we are now at a point where we are seeing many people from outside of the area coming to Wirral to access the testing centres."

It went on: "This is adding to what was already high demand and has resulted in us taking the difficult decision to close early today to ensure we can process the tests from people who have already been queuing for some time."

The testing service offered at Heswall Library for people showing symptoms will continue to operate at reduced hours every day over Christmas.