HEALTH authorities are looking for a new Covid testing centre in Malvern after they closed down the previous one.

The Department of Health and Social Care had set up a site between Como Road and Victoria Road, but closed it last month because of the ongoing vaccination efforts and rise in home-testing.

Now, however, they are working with Malvern Hills District Council to identify a new site for testing.

A spokesman said: "Testing is a vital part of our continued response to COVID-19 and we have a huge PCR testing capability for people with symptoms that is helping us break chains of transmission.

"We are making it easier than ever to get a test with free twice weekly rapid tests available for everyone in England, meaning cases can be detected faster and more easily, and outbreaks can be stopped earlier."

The Malvern Hills Local Testing Site located at Como Road Car Park closed on Saturday, July 10.

The testing site in Malvern, located off Como Road, opened for the first time in November last year.

When it opened, it was available only to those with coronavirus symptoms of a new continuous cough or a change to their sense of smell and taste.

It was also intended only for walk-in visitors, rather than being a drive-thru site as seen at Sixways in Worcester.

Decisions to open, close or relocate testing sites are made by the Local Authority, based on a range of factors including ease of access for pedestrians and the level of local demand for testing.

Covid rates have remained relatively low in Malvern throughout the pandemic, with the worst outbreaks in the county being seen in Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest.

Additional routes to acquiring lateral-flow tests have become available, including the universal testing offer, where anyone can order LFDs to their homes, as well as testing in schools and workplaces.

For more information, go to https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests