A pop up walk in test centre is to be established at the former St Aloysius College campus in Athlone later this week.
The centre will operate from 10am to 4pm from Thursday until Saturday - and is open to both children and adults.
The centre is opening due to fears that a major Covid cluster of the highly transmissible Delta variant may have developed in the town following social events on Friday June 11th last.
It's believed at least 14 cases of Covid in the last week are linked to the event and are currently being further tested to see if they are linked to the Indian origin variant.
Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council Frankie Keena is urging everyone in Athlone to get tested :
Director of Public Health in the midlands Dr Una Fallon explained to the Joe Finnegan Show that they are especially concerned about spread among young people :
