Media Release
Pop-up COVID-19 Test Centre opening in Virginia, as COVID-19 cases increase in Cavan.
24th August, 2021: A free ‘walk-in and online self-referral’ COVID-19 testing site at Virginia Show Centre, Virginia, Co. Cavan, A82 A9X2 will open for 2 days on Friday, August 27th and Saturday, August 28th, as COVID-19 cases increase in Cavan.
Opening hours are:
Friday, August 27th 10am – 6pm
Saturday, August 28th 10am – 6pm
People have the option to book an appointment online for a free COVID-19 test on the HSE online self-referral portal: https://covid19test.healthservice.ie/hse-self-referral/, or attend the pop-up test centre at Virginia Show Centre without an appointment and wait for a COVID-19 test. The online booking facility for the pop-up COVID-19 test centre in Virginia helps to manage the numbers of people attending for a test at any time and minimises the length of time people may have to wait for their test.
The free ‘pop-up’ COVID-19 test centre is open to members of the public of any age. Members of the public will need to bring a photo ID and provide a mobile phone number in order to provide test results.
The Department of Public Health, HSE North East have seen the number of COVID-19 cases increase in Cavan in recent weeks and in particular in the Bailieborough-Cootehill and Ballyjamesduff Local Electoral Areas (LEAs).
The latest figures, covering the 14-day incidence during 03/08/2021 to 16/08/2021, reported the electoral areas in Bailieborough-Cootehill LEA with an incidence rate of 1433.5 cases per 100,000 of population and Ballyjamesduff with an incidence rate of 779 cases per 100,000 of population. This compares to a national incidence rate of 493.2/100,000 of population.
Dr Keith Ian Quintyne, Director of Public Health (Acting) with the Department of Public Health, HSE North East, said: “We are appealing to people in Cavan to continue to follow public health advice due to concerns over a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in the County in recent weeks. Two of our LEAs – Bailieborough-Cootehill and Ballyjamesduff are amongst the top 15 LEAs (out of 166 LEAs) for 14-day incidence per 100,000 population. The incidence rate in the Bailieborough-Cootehill LEA is three times the national rate.”
“We are urging the people of Cavan to attend for a free COVID-19 test at the pop-up centre at Virginia Show Centre this Friday and Saturday. Availing of COVID-19 testing, even when you don’t have symptoms, helps us to stop further spread of COVID-19 and protects our communities.”
“We are starting to see cases rise, albeit from very low levels, in those aged 65 years and older. We all need to be careful in what we do, even if we are fully vaccinated. We need to adhere to the public health advice: keeping a physical distance of two metres, wearing a mask, frequently washing hands, and adhering to proper cough and sneeze etiquette.”
Dr Quintyne added: “COVID-19 vaccines along with the public health advice remain our pathway out of this pandemic – please avail of the opportunity to get protected from COVID-19 through vaccination. Walk-in vaccination clinics are operating in Cavan and Monaghan this week.”
Mandy Doyle, Acting Head of Service Primary Care, CHO Area 1 (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo) said: “Pop-up centres have proven to be successful in detecting and containing cases of COVID-19. I would therefore encourage anyone who is concerned that they may have contracted COVID-19 to avail of the free pop-up testing service at Virginia Show Centre in Virginia, Co. Cavan. It is vital that people come forward for testing to help identify those who are infected and infectious, but unaware that they might be spreading the virus. In protecting ourselves we protect each other.”
Acting Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, Mr Eoin Doyle said “We have seen a worrying spike in cases in Cavan recently and it is important that we take all necessary steps to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the community, while the vaccination programme continues to progress. In that regard, adherence to public health guidelines remains a crucial element in our response to this pandemic. This pop-up testing centre in Virginia will help to identify asymptomatic cases in the community, and I would encourage people in Cavan to get a test and avail of this free service.”
Up to date information on the location and opening days and times of COVID-19 walk-in test centres is available at COVID-19 walk-in test centres: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/testing/covid-19-walk-in-test-centres.html
ENDS