Walk-in test centre should be opened in North Dublin, says McAuliffe

A Dublin North West TD has called for a walk-in Covid-19 test centre to be opened in the area.

Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe said that some communities in north Dublin have some of the highest Covid-19 rates in the country and a walk-in test centre is urgently needed.

“I greatly welcome the establishment of walk in test centres yesterday which will help pick up asymptomatic cases of Covid-19 in areas of high community transmission.

“The Finglas-Ballymun LEA has a rate of 358.1 per 100,000 and the Artane-Whitehall LEA has a incident rate of 353.8 per 100,000, these are amongst the highest in the city and I have spoken to the Minister and HSE today urging them to consider one for the Dublin North West area.

“Around one in five people show no symptoms of Covid19 and these additional measures will help pick up these asymptomatic cases” he said.

Temporary walk-in testing clinics were announced by the HSE yesterday.

These centres will allow people, who don’t have symptoms of COVID-19, to get a free COVID-19 test without having to contact their GP first.

ID is required for test and you must live within 5km of the test centre.

Working with the National Ambulance Service, the HSE aims to carry out 300-500 COVID-19 tests per day at each walk-in centre.