Two areas of Glasgow have been chosen for mass community Covid-19 testing next week to identify carriers of the virus who have no symptoms.

Thousands of people in the two areas will be asked to go to one of two new mobile testing centres and get tested.

It is hoped the move, the first in Scotland, will identify people with the virus and stop them spreading it further.

The tests will be offered to everyone living in Dalmarnock and Pollokshields West from Monday until December 9.

Households in the areas will be notified by letter by Glasgow City Council over the next few days and invited to get themselves tested.

There will be capacity to test almost 20,000 people over the 12 days the sites are open

The testing centres, one in the Emirates Arena Car Park for Dalmarnock, and one in opposite the Tramway Theatre in Albert Drive for Pollokshields West, will take bookings for people who do not have symptoms. 

People will also be able to just turn up if they are prepared to wait. Drive thru and walk-thru testing and will be available to all residents.

There is capacity for around 800 tests a day to be done at each site

The results of the test should be delivered within 48 hours.

It is hoped the more people get tested the quicker numbers can come down and Glasgow can move out of the higher levels of lockdown restrictions.

The council said: “As asymptomatic carriers do not display any outward signs of the virus, they can be particularly problematic in the spread of disease. Ensuring that greater numbers of these individuals are identified and isolated will be a significant part in reducing the spread and helping the city move to lower levels of the government’s strategic framework.”

People with symptoms, a persistent cough a high temperature or loss of taste or smell should book a test in the normal way at an established test site.

The council and Health board said the areas have been chosen after analysis of incidence rates and identified vulnerable groups in the communities.

Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council said: “We know that people can have covid but have no symptoms, and through no fault of their own they are putting the people around them at risk and pushing up the number of infections.

"If we could make sure we tell people that they’ve got it, even when they have no symptoms then that would be another step in the fight against staying in level four.

“We know cases numbers are slowing down in Glasgow – what we are all doing together doing is working. If you live in Dalmarnock or Pollokshields please get tested and help to drive the numbers down even quicker.”

Each site will be able to test a maximum of 800 people a day and 4000 individuals over a 5 day period.