Mobile Covid-19 rapid test unit returns to Bantock Park

The mobile Covid-19 rapid test unit is back at Bantock Park this week.

Anyone without symptoms of Covid-19 is invited to get tested at the unit, situated in the car park of the popular attraction, from 10am-7pm today (Monday 29 March) and then 8am-7pm from tomorrow until Easter Monday (5 April).

John Denley, Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, said: “We know that up to a third of individuals with Covid-19 don’t have any symptoms and could therefore spread the virus onto others unknowingly.

“The deployment of the mobile unit to Bantock Park this week will enable more people to get tested closer to home.”

As well as the mobile unit, free rapid testing for people without symptoms of Covid-19 is available at:

• The Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm
• The Jamia Masjid Bilal, Newhampton Road West, 10am-7pm daily
• Pendeford Library, Monday-Friday, 7am-6pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm
• The Hub at Ashmore Park, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10am-6pm
• St Joseph’s Church, Willenhall Road, Monday-Friday, 2pm-6pm
• Bilston Community Centre, Prouds Lane, Thursday, Friday and Monday, 8am-4pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm.

Meanwhile, people who work in a school or college; people who live with or are in a care or support bubble with someone at school or college; childcare providers; and people working in an occupation critical to the reopening or schools are reminded that they are also eligible for home testing.

Free Covid-19 home test kits are available for collection from Pendeford Library (between 7am-11am daily), Ashmore Park Hub (between 8am-11am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays) and the Civic Centre (between 10am-1pm on Saturdays and Sundays). People can collect up to two boxes – containing a total of 14 kits – at a time. The kits contain step-by-step instructions enabling people to complete their test and report their results from the comfort of home.

People taking tests at home are reminded that they must report a test result, even if it is negative, to help keep everyone safe and build up an accurate picture of the spread of the virus in the city.

John added: "Please remember that, even if you have had your Covid-19 vaccination, it's important to get tested regularly. You must continue to follow Government guidance. Keep your distance from others, wear a face covering and wash your hands or use hand sanitiser so that we can defeat this virus."

More information on rapid testing for people without symptoms of Covid-19 is available at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus-testing. Rapid testing is not available for people who have symptoms of Covid-19, including a fever, a new continuous cough or a change to the sense of taste or smell, or people who have been told to isolate. Anyone with symptoms should immediately self-isolate and book a PCR test by visiting

www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or calling 119.

Latest figures show there were 63.7 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the seven days to 26 March. That means 168 people in the city tested positive for the virus in that seven day period – though the true number of new cases will likely be higher.