People in Cavan are being encouraged to make use of the walk-in Covid testing centre this weekend.
From this morning, testing is being carried out at the Cavan Leisure Centre in an attempt to reduce the asymptomatic spread of the virus in the community.
Until 7pm this evening, and from 11am to 7pm tomorrow until Monday, people in County Cavan who aren’t displaying Covid symptoms are invited to attend the “no appointment needed” testing centre in Drumalee.
The process takes around ten minutes, with results sent to a person’s phone within two days.
Uptake in the opening hours has been slow, but Ruth Woods, the Test Centre Co-ordinator says she expects a strong turn out over the weekend.
Testing is carried out by the National Ambulance Service, and Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer Tom Horwell says figures from other walk-in centres prove they can detect asymptomatic spread.
The Cavan-Belturbet LEA has a 14 day Covid-19 incidence rate of 296.6 cases per 100,000 population; more than three times the number of the next highest local area.
It was this growing trend over the past five weeks that saw the HSE move to set-up a walk-in testing centre.
Local politicians say this move was spurred on by an outbreak in a local meat plant, something the HSE has rejected.
Cavan County Council Cathaoirleach Sarah O'Reilly has urged people to attend:
