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Limerick Covid 19 testing centres will test thousands of people in the fight against the Coronavirus

The 10.000sq ft Child and Family Centre in Roxboro, Limerick, which is now acting as one of the key Covid-19 testing centres for the midwest.

Limerick Covid 19 Testing Centres will test thousands of people in the fight against the Coronavirus

With the amount of Covid-19 testing increasing each day, so too are the number of testing centres. Limerick has introduced several testing centres across the county which are effective immediately, and will provide thousands of people who are experiencing the symptoms of the Coronavirus, or who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, with the necessary test.

The operators of the newly built Child and Family Centre in Roxboro are proud to be able to do their bit in the fight against the Coronavirus, by making their centre available to the HSE as one of its key testing centres for the Midwest.


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The 10,000sq ft centre, which was developed by the Limerick Social Service Council, was due to open as an Early Years service and Preschool in the autumn. It’s adaption to the first major testing centre for the midwest region will see it fulfil a civic and critical public health role ahead of schedule.

Led by the Limerick Social Service Council, the project was the latest example of the interagency cooperation that has been key to Limerick’s resurgence over the past five years in particular. Agencies involved in the project include Limerick City and County Council, Tusla, HSE, Diocese of Limerick, JP McManus Pro Am, Limerick Enterprise Development Board, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, Department of Education and Skills, Le Chéile National School and Gaelscoil Sheoirse Clancy, which are also on the same campus, are also partners in the project.

Commenting on its pivot into a testing centre, Brian Ryan, General Manager of Limerick Social Service said, “The original efforts of the multiagency consortium behind the project were all about serving the community and that the facility is doing that in a way that we clearly could never have envisaged. We had begun to run some initial services there and the Early Years’ service and preschool weren’t due to open until the autumn so we just had to stand down those initial activities because of the Coronavirus concerns.”

“We are both delighted and proud to make the facility available to assist in the fight against the Coronavirus. It has already been playing its part for a week and more now, and our hats go off to the HSE personnel who are manning this testing centre. They are doing incredible work to help prevent and contain the spread of the virus,” he said.

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Michael Sheahan has welcomed the move, saying, “This is a perfect example of the spirit of partnership in Limerick that will help see us through the unprecedented challenge we face from the Coronavirus. The Child and Family Centre is a joint initiative between key stakeholders here, including the local authority, and was about to put a very special wrap-around service in place from the autumn. We are really grateful to the Limerick Social Service Council that they were in a position to have it completed in time and step in at this hour of need.”

Limerick Covid 19 Testing

The Limerick Gaelic Grounds, which is now also being used as a Covid-19 testing centre.

Other testing centres in Limerick include the Gaelic Grounds on the Ennis Road, which is now open for drive-through Covid-19 testing, where people are asked not to leave their cars.

Testing is also taking place at St Gabriel’s School in Dooradoyle currently from 2 pm to 7 pm, seven days a week, but will see additional testing stations put in place from this Friday, March 27 onwards. The HSE will provide Covid-19 testing here from 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week.

In the Midwest there is currently a waiting list of over 8,000 people, a HSE spokesperson confirmed. “Testing has significantly increased in the past number of days and with more test centres opening, we hope to be in a position to reduce the backlog considerably within a 10 day period. Once the swabbing test is completed people can expect to wait up to seven days for their test result. The advice is the patient should self isolate during this period,” the spokesperson said.

“When checked in at the entrance, the person will be provided with a face mask, tissues and disposable bag and directed to a test bay. They will then be attended to by Healthcare workers who will be wearing PPE’s. At this point, people will be asked to blow their nose and dispose of the tissue in the bag provided. A throat and nose swab will then be taken and the person will leave the facility, return home and self-isolate. Results will be issued directly to the person at a later date. HSE Mid West Community Healthcare is appealing for the privacy of those staffing and visiting the centres to be respected.”

The testing services are being provided on an appointment-only basis and only those who are referred by their GP will be seen. It is advised that any person who is symptomatic, waiting for an appointment for a test, or waiting for the result of their test, should assume that they are positive for the virus, and ensure that they take all the necessary precautions regarding care and self-isolation. Find the full details here.

For more stories on Covid-19, click here.

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.