New Covid test centre opens in Omagh

A NEW walk-through Covid test site has opened in Omagh as the number of cases across Tyrone continues to rise.

The walk through test site opened on Friday at the Lisanelly Avenue Car Park in Omagh, in the area on the lane leading up to the Grange.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council received correspondence that the test centre would be operational from Friday after Minister of Health Robin Swann confirmed that his department had identified locations suitable for additional Covid19 walk through sites in a number of towns, including Omagh.

A mobile Covid-19 Testing Centre was previously set up at the Omagh Primary Care and Hospital Complex but was moved to another location earlier this year, and the Council has since sought the return of the testing centre due to the rising number of cases in the area.

In recent weeks, the number of people testing positive for the virus in the Omagh council area has increased dramatically and has now passed over 4,000 cases.

The test centre will serve people living in Omagh and the surrounding areas, as currently those needing tested have to travel to Enniskillen or Derry. Similar centres which have been set up throughout the North have the capacity to carry out 2,000 tests per week, and appointments must be booked in advance.

The test itself involves taking a swab of the inside of your nose and the back of your throat, using a long cotton bud and will be self-administered. Doctor Josephine Deehan from Strule Medical Practice in Omagh previously welcomed the news and said, “I believe improved and rapid access to Covid 19 testing, and fast and accurate contact tracing is essential to control this virus.”

On Sunday, the figures from the Department of Health showed that Mid Ulster still has one of the worst infection rates, with 751 cases per 100,000 population.

In Fermanagh and Omagh the figure is 469, while in Derry and Strabane the figure now stands at 477. Across the North a further 17 deaths were reported on Sunday.