A POP-UP Covid-19 testing unit will be located in Chester city centre next week.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s mobile testing base, offering free lateral flow tests, will be on Eastgate Street.

The unit will be open from 9am until 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, apart from on Thursday when it will have close at noon due to the Christmas lights switch on.

You do not require an appointment for the pop-up unit and home testing kits will also be available to take away.

The current approach to testing in the borough is not part of a surge testing programme but is in response to areas where Covid-19 rates are relatively high.

The pop-up testing units will provide a free LFT test to anyone who does not have any Covid-19 symptoms.

This type of test is good at picking up people who have no symptoms but are infected with Covid-19 and so may be unknowingly spreading the disease.

Government recommends that everyone tests for Covid-19 twice a week regardless of whether they have been vaccinated. Free home test kits are readily available at participating local pharmacies or online and are also available to collect at the pop-up testing units.