Three new COVID-19 local testing sites will open in west Cheshire within the next two weeks, enabling residents with Coronavirus symptoms to book a test.

The sites in Ellesmere Port, Frodsham and Blacon are walk-through sites and will be open from 8am-8pm, seven days a week.

The Ellesmere Port site is located on Wellington Road car park. Installation has started today, Monday, and the site will start offering tests in the next few days.

The Frodsham site will be located at the back of Frodsham Leisure Centre, in Princeway, and the Blacon site will be located in the Sealand Road Park and Ride car park. Work is expected to start on these sites within the next two weeks.

Residents with symptoms can book an appointment at the new sites on the national portal at: www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. The symptoms of COVID-19 are a new continuous cough, a fever, or a loss or change in sense of taste and smell.

Visitors to these local testing sites will be required to self-swab the back of their own throats and their noses and will receive guidance and instruction from staff.

They will need to wear a face covering at the sites and keep a two-metre social distance from others.

Residents who have been in contact with someone who has had COVID-19 symptoms do not need to go for a test unless they have symptoms, or have been advised to do so by a health professional or the Test and Trace Service.

Our other local testing site is in the Little Roodee car park in Chester.