Covid-19 rapid test centre opens at Pendeford Library

Wolverhampton's newest rapid Covid-19 test centre – for people without symptoms of the virus – has opened at Pendeford Library.

Testing will be available to anyone without symptoms from 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am-6pm at weekends; appointments are not necessary.

In addition, testing is available at Pendeford Library for teachers and other staff working in education and Early Years settings, including cleaners, catering, administration and other support staff, between 7am and 10am and between 4pm and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Staff should bring their work ID or a pay slip to confirm eligibility.

Rapid testing, which uses lateral flow test 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.

The new centre joins the city’s three existing rapid test facilities, at the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Civic Centre (open Monday to Friday from 8am-7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm), the Jamia Masjid Bilal on Newhampton Road West (10am-6.30pm daily), and St Joseph’s Church, Willenhall Road (Monday to Friday, 2pm-6pm) and appointments are not necessary.

Please note, 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, who must book a test at one of the city’s five ‘PCR’ test centres.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "We have an extensive network of testing facilities across Wolverhampton for people with and without symptoms of Covid-19.

“The message is clear; if you develop symptoms of Covid-19, you must self-isolate and book a test at one of our five PCR test centres immediately.

“And if you don’t have symptoms, please take part in our rapid testing programme at the Civic Centre, the Jamia Masjid Bilal, St Joseph’s Church or Pendeford Library.

“You'll get your result inside an hour and, if it turns out you have got Covid-19, you’ll be able to take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your loved ones.

She added: "Visitors to the Pendeford test centre may be a little surprised by the changes we have made to the library but can rest assured that it will revert to its normal layout as soon as local demand for testing passes. It is fortunate that the flexibility of the building has enabled us to use it for this important project while it is remains temporarily closed as a library."

People with symptoms – a new, continuous cough, a fever or a change to their sense of taste or smell – must book a PCR test at www.gov.uk.get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

Walk-through PCR test centres are located at Showell Road, Whitmore Reans Library car park, Faulkland Street car park, Blakenhall Community Resource Centre and Mountford Lane car park, Bilston, with a drive-through at Aldersley Leisure Village. Free parking is available at all sites except Faulkland Street.

Latest figures show there were 961.1 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the seven days to 9 January. That means 2,528 people in the city tested positive for the virus in that seven day period – though the true number of new cases will likely be considerably higher.

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.