Athlone's Covid test centre closes

The Covid-19 test centre which was in place for the last two months at Athlone GAA Club closed earlier this week.

Described as a pop-up centre by the HSE, it opened on November 29.

It was initially due to operate for just a week, but when infection rates increased the HSE said it would be kept it in place "while testing demand remains high."

Testing in Athlone peaked at over 1,000 tests a day in late December and early January. However, a source said there was a big drop-off in test numbers after the eligibility requirements for PCR tests changed earlier this month.

It's understood that the number of daily tests had decreased to around 200 a day prior to the closure of the centre on Tuesday of this week.

The closure of the centre means that the only test centre now operating in Westmeath is at St Loman's Hospital in Mullingar.

When contacted about the closure of the Athlone centre, a HSE spokesperson issued a statement to the Westmeath Independent saying: "The testing centre in Athlone GAA last operated on January 25.

"There are 39 test centres currently operating meaning that there is least one testing centre in each county providing access to a test centre within 45 minutes travel time to over 90% of the population."