840 people have tested positive for Covid 19 as a result of getting a test at one of the country's walk in centres.
The positivity rate so far is 2.78 per cent, with some facilities having rates as high as 6 per cent.
The first of four new walk-in centres opened in Dublin at 11 O'Clock this morning, with more in the capital and in Tipperary to open over the weekend.
The new Dublin-based walk in test centres will be based in Coolock, the Liberties and Tallaght.
· The Coolock centre will be located in Parnells GAA Club, Main Street, Coolock and is open from Friday April 16 to Thursday April 22 from 11am to 7pm each day.
· The Liberties test centre will be based in St Catherine’s Community Sports Centre Marrowbone Lane, The Liberties and will be open from Saturday April 17 to Thursday April 22 from 11am to 7pm.
· The Tallaght centre will be located in Tallaght Stadium and will be open from Sunday 18 April to Thursday 22 April from 11am to 7pm each day.
The current walk-in test centre which is based in Cumann Naomh Peregrine, Blakestown Road, Mulhuddart will remain open for a further 5 days until April 21, from 11am to 7pm.
Asymptomatic
Niamh O Beirne, HSE National Lead Test and Trace says: “Increasing the number of people we test will help us better understand the nature of the transmission of the COVID 19 virus and helps support the strategic approach to identify any variants of concern within our communities.
"As of Wednesday evening, April 13th over 30,000 people have availed of COVID 19 testing in these walk-in centres. The positivity rate to date is 2.78% which equates to 840 people testing positive for COVID 19 as a result of getting a test in one of these walk-in centre.
"These positive cases would not have been identified without this targeted asymptomatic testing and getting tested has enabled those who are COVID-19 positive take the necessary actions to protect those around them."
