THE opening date for a new Covid-19 testing centre for people without symptoms at Chester Cathedral has been confirmed.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has confirmed at its latest Covid Outbreak Board meeting that the centre is to open on Tuesday, April 6.

It will be the council’s third asymptomatic testing centre in the borough.

The centres offer twice weekly testing for people who cannot work from home or people who care for family and friends, as well as people who share a household or bubble with a school pupil or someone who works at a school.

So far, the two existing centres in Ellesmere Port and Winsford have now done nearly 30,000 tests, of which 489 were positive.

Data shows that 23 per cent of people using the centres have come from outside the borough.

One in three people with Covid-19 do not have any symptoms so asymptomatic tests help to identify positive cases and prevent people from spreading the virus unknowingly.

The Dean, Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, from Chester Cathedral, said: “We are very proud that Chester Cathedral can serve its local community in this way during the pandemic.

“Opening this building to the NHS, council staff and local people to help stop the spread of a deadly disease is a return to our core purpose and values.

“The cathedral is a significant building in the heart of the city centre with good street level access into the South Transept where testing will take place.

“We hope that its use as an asymptomatic testing centre will strengthen the message about how important it is to stop Covid-19 spreading.”

Further details about the opening and operational times of the Chester Cathedral asymptomatic testing centre will be announced in due course.

Anyone who develops Covid-19 symptoms, which include a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss or change in your sense of taste or smell, should self-isolate immediately and call: 119 or visit: nhs.uk/coronavirus to book a test.

To reduce the spread of Covid-19 everyone is reminded to stay at home as much as possible, wash their hands or use hand sanitiser regularly, cover their face in enclosed spaces and maintain social distancing by keeping two metres away from people they do not live with.

For more information on Covid-19 tests visit: cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/coronavirus and click on Covid-19 testing.