A NEW rapid coronavirus testing centre for workers without symptoms of Covid-19 has opened in Oswestry.

The walk-in centre, which will be open 8am to 5pm daily, is based at The Victoria Centre, in Victoria Road.

It is one of three walk-in rapid Covid-19 testing centres to open across the county, with one located in Bridgnorth and another in Shifnal.

The sites are in addition to walk-in council-run test centres already open in Shrewsbury, Wem and Craven Arms.

Rachel Robinson, Shropshire’s director of public health, believes the centres will help to identify cases in people who are unable to work from home.

She said: “Even if you have no symptoms, you could still be spreading the virus – and a mild illness for you could be a life-threatening disease for someone else.

“That’s why we’re encouraging people who can’t work from home to get tested at our walk-in centres.

“By coming forward for a test, you’ll be helping us to track down the virus and stop it from being passed on.

“And if you test positive, it’s really important that you self-isolate for 10 days, and that your close contacts self-isolate too. That’s the only way we’ll be able to break the chain of transmission.”

No prior booking is required for a test at the new Oswestry site.

The lateral flow tests are self-administered, with staff on hand to offer guidance, and are a simple swab of the throat and the nose.

Test results are available within an hour and those who are unable to work from home can get tested twice a week.

People with symptoms of coronavirus should not go to any of the rapid testing centres.

Instead, they should stay at home and book a test online or by calling 119.

Anyone with symptoms, or who tests positive for coronavirus, must not leave their home for 10 days.

Other members of their household must stay at home for 10 days too. Anyone who is told that they’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus must not leave their home for 10 days either.