SYMPTOM-FREE testing for Covid-19 will prioritise key workers across St Helens, the council has announced.

The local authority says key workers and anyone who cannot work from home will be first in line.

Council chiefs believe this will help manage demand at the symptom-free testing centres and help ensure that essential key workers can get tested.

Key workers include those working in frontline public services who cannot work from home, voluntary sector workers and people providing essential frontline support.

People working in supermarkets, transport workers, factory, manufacturing and distribution centres and taxi drivers are also included.

A council statement read: "This will mean that key workers, those who cannot work from home, those attending education or are an unpaid carer, will take priority at all three testing centres in the borough, as these groups are more likely to be mixing with a greater number of people.

"Anyone who can work from home and are observing lockdown rules by only going out for exercise, shopping and to attend medical appointments, are less likely to need to get a test, as they are not mixing with others."

The move comes after a week in which the Covid-19 infection rate across St Helens has soared.

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The number of admissions of coronavirus patients at Whiston Hospital is the highest it has been during the pandemic.

In a further statement, Councillor Anthony Burns, cabinet member for wellbeing, culture and heritage, said; “With the national lockdown the message is clear – stay at home unless you are a key worker providing a frontline service or you cannot work from home.

“If you are one of these people, you will still be coming into regular contact with others, so it’s really important that you continue to access symptom-free testing weekly, to help keep yourself safe and continue to provide vital services safely.”

Symptom-free testing centres are open at St Mary’s Market, Chester Lane Community Centre and Grange Valley Youth Centre and are open from 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms must self-isolate and book a test online at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

If you have symptoms do not attend the symptom-free testing centres.

To find out more about the tests visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/letsgettested