Civic rapid test site closed this Sunday for maintenance

The Covid-19 rapid testing site at the Civic Centre will be closed this Sunday (24 January) while maintenance work is carried out on the building.

Anyone without symptoms of coronavirus who wishes to get a test on Sunday can instead attend either Pendeford Library between 10am and 6pm or the Jamia Masjid Bilal on Newhampton Road West between 10am and 6.30pm. The Civic Centre will reopen for rapid testing from 8am on Monday.

Rapid testing, which uses lateral flow technology to provide results in under an hour, can identify cases in people who don't have any symptoms of the virus but who could still be infectious. Anyone who tests positive is then able to self-isolate to prevent spreading the virus onto others.

As of yesterday (19 January), over 31,000 rapid tests had been completed in Wolverhampton, with around 4.5% of tests coming back positive.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "Testing people without symptoms of Covid-19 is really important because we know that as many as one in three people who have the virus don't have any symptoms. That means that they won't realise they've got it, but they may still be infectious.

"If we can find these cases, those who are infected are able to self-isolate which will in turn help break the chain of transmission.

"Thousands of people have already taken part in the rapid testing programme in Wolverhampton and, if you're symptom free, I'd encourage you to come along and get yourself tested. Chances are that you won't have Covid-19, but if you do, you’ll be able to take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your loved ones."

Rapid testing is available at the Civic Centre (Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm, except this Sunday); the Jamia Masjid Bilal on Newhampton Road West (10am-6.30pm daily); Pendeford Library (Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm); and St Joseph’s Church, Willenhall Road (Monday-Friday, 2pm-6pm). No appointment is necessary.

Another rapid test site will open at The Hub at Ashmore Park on Friday. It will be open between 10am and 6pm five days a week, except for Wednesdays and Sundays when it is closed.

In addition, testing for people working in education and early years settings is available at Pendeford Library from 7am-10am and 4pm-6pm, Monday to Friday; staff are asked to bring their work ID or a pay slip to confirm eligibility.

Rapid testing is not available to people who have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, or to anyone with symptoms of Covid-19, which include a fever, a new continuous cough or a change to the sense of taste or smell. They should immediately self-isolate and book a PCR test by visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or calling 119.

For full details of rapid and PCR testing facilities in Wolverhampton, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus-testing.

The latest information and guidance around coronavirus is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus and on the council’s own coronavirus pages at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus. Further details of the lockdown restrictions currently in place, and the answers to frequently asked questions, are available at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/covidalert.