No symptoms COVID-19 testing (SMART)

“SMART” testing refers to Systematic, Meaningful, Asymptomatic, Repeated Testing using rapid tests – called lateral flow tests – and is the model we are using for community testing across Halton and the other areas of the Liverpool City Region (Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral).

On 19 July, the Government removed outstanding legal restrictions on social contact, life events, and open the remaining closed settings. The Government is instead  encouraging people and businesses to make informed decisions about how to manage the risk to themselves and others.

Getting a test if you do not have COVID-19 symptoms

Whole-community smart testing aims to protect those at highest risk and find asymptomatic cases (people without any symptoms).

This will help prevent and reduce transmission in the community. The more people we can test, the better we can fight the virus in our local area.

Stay Strong Halton. #LetsGetTested

How to get a test:

• No booking required.
• The test involves a swab from the nose and mouth, which is done by you. The results are usually available from 30 minutes to two hours later.
• Please observe social distancing and wear face coverings when visiting the test centre.
• Please see site details and opening times below.

Very important:

• Please Do NOT attend a Smart ‘no symptoms’ community testing site if you have symptoms of Covid-19 or feel unwell with new symptoms (such as sore throat, headache) – please go to the NHS Test Centre at the vacant Police station/magistrates on Kingsway in Widnes or behind the St Paul’s Health Centre in Runcorn.
• Please Do NOT attend if you have been told by a contact tracer/NHS App that you are a contact of a positive case. From Monday 16 August, if you are double jabbed* or aged under 18, you will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if you are identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. Instead, you are advised to take a PCR test (at an NHS test centre) as soon as possible to check if you have the virus and for variants of concern – you are not required to self-isolate while you wait for the results of the PCR test.
• There is no 'test to release' available at these sites.

*Double vaccinated adults who are close contacts will no longer be required to self-isolate from 16 August, as long as they received their final dose of an MHRA-approved vaccine in the UK vaccination programme at least 14 days prior to contact with a positive case.

Please contact COVIDtesting@halton.gov.uk if you have any queries, feedback or you require further information.​

• A map of local venues available for no symptoms testing and community collect of home test kits. Please click on each venue to find out what is available at that location and opening hours.

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