HSE to open walk-in test centre in Athlone

The HSE has announced a pop-up walk-in test centre will open in St Aloysius College, Athlone this Thursday, June 24.

The centre will be open 10am to 4pm daily until and including Saturday, June 26. This will be open to children and adults. Please bring identification with you.

The development comes after the HSE confirmed on Monday that it was investigating a number of suspected Delta variant cases of Covid-19 linked to socialising in Athlone over a week ago.

“These cases are associated with socialising down by the river on Friday June 11th. It is not clear how transmission occurred. It may be that social distancing advice was not adhered to and there have been reports of house parties that night”.

“The importance of this is that the Delta variant is very transmissible and those who are not fully vaccinated may be at risk of infection. Those who are particularly vulnerable need to continue to protect themselves against Covid-19 until they have been fully vaccinated,” the HSE statement said,

If you were socialising in Athlone on Friday, June 11, and you think you may have been exposed to Covid-19, you're asked to get a test.