A NEW Covid-19 testing site for residents without symptoms will open tomorrow (Wednesday) in Stockton.

The first testing centre for residents without Covid-19 symptoms in Stockton will open at the back of Splash - via a marquee in the car park at the rear - tomorrow (Wednesday, January 6). 

The testing facilities are for Stockton-on-Tees residents who don’t have symptoms. 

Tests are free and appointments must be booked in advance using this website: https://www.stockton.gov.uk/coronavirus/testing.

The Splash testing centre will be open 8am until 4pm, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and 10am to 6pm, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Free parking is available.

A further two sites at Thornaby Pavilion and Billingham Forum will open in the coming weeks. 

Matt Vickers MP for Stockton South said: "Funding has been available to the council to set up community testing since December 21 and it’s welcome news that like Darlington and Redcar before us we’re now rolling this out.

"It’s great news and is the result of a lot of hard work behind the scenes to make it happen. 

"One in three people who have Covid-19 do not experience symptoms, it’s vital they are identified so that they know to isolate, this will be key in reducing the spread and driving down infection rates.

"Community testing works and played a big part in bringing the numbers down in Liverpool, getting them from one of the worst hit cities in Europe to Tier 2.

"I’ll be supporting the council in opening further sites as soon as possible at Thornaby Pavilion and Billingham Forum. Meaning we will have three asymptomatic testing sites providing results within the hour. 

"Community Testing along with our world leading vaccine programme mean there is light at the end of the tunnel. But it’s important we all pull together and continue to follow the rules so that we can defeat the virus and return to normality."