THE HSE IS opening eight more temporary walk-in test centres for Covid-19 over the next week.

The new centres include two locations in Donegal, which has the highest Covid-19 incidence rate of any county.

Two of the centres – one in Wexford and another in Cavan – opened today, with six more to open in Donegal, Louth, Laois, Longford and Dublin.

The centres are open to anyone 16 or over who does not have Covid-19 symptoms but wants to be tested, lives in the area of the centre, and has not tested positive in the last six months.

More than 62,300 people have received a test in the existing walk-in centres, with 2,048 Covid-19 cases detected through the centres as of today.

The new centres are located in:

• Whitemills Industrial Estate, Wexford, Y35 VK59
• Cavan Swimming Poll and Leisure Complex, Drumalee, Cavan, H12 Y9W4
• Donegal GAA Centre of Excellence, Milltown, Convoy, Donegal, F93 DK4C
• Ardee walk-in test centre, St Bridget’s Campus, Kells Road, Ardee, Louth, A92 DRN0
• Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Dublin 24, D24 FNK6
• St Fintan’s Hospital, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, Laois, R32 YFW6
• Unit 10A Mastertech Business Park, Longford, N39 K535
• GAA Club, Carndonagh, Donegal F93 EF65

National Lead for Testing and Tracing Niamh O’Beirne said that the HSE is “seeing increasing numbers of people avail of our free walk-in COVID 19 testing service”.

“We are continuing to work closely with the HSE’s Public Health teams across the country to determine the best locations for these walk-in centres,” O’Beirne said.

“Today, walk-in testing centres open in Wexford and in Cavan. Over the coming days walk-in testing will be available in centres in Tallaght, Ardee Co Louth, Portlaoise and Longford. Two further testing centres will open in Donegal – in Convoy and Carndonagh,” she said.

“We continue to urge people in those communities where walk-in testing is available to go and get a test and help contain the spread of Covid-19.”

Figures confirmed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) today show that the national 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 is 129.7 per 100,000 people.

Donegal has experienced a rise in cases in recent weeks, with a 14-day incidence rate today of 268.2 per 100,000.

Anyone who wants to be tested at one of the walk-in centres does not need to make an appointment, but must bring photo ID and provide a phone number so they can be contacted with the result.

Details of all open walk-in test centres are available on the HSE website.