Mobile Covid-19 rapid testing unit hits the road

A new mobile testing unit has hit the road to make rapid Covid-19 testing even more accessible to people in Wolverhampton.

Anyone without symptoms of Covid-19 is invited to get tested at the mobile unit which is in the car park of Bantock Park from today (Monday 1 March) until Sunday 7 March. It will move to another location in the city next week.

Following a pilot this afternoon, rapid testing will be available at Bantock Park from 9am-1pm and 2pm-6pm each day until Sunday. Testing is free and people don't need to book in advance. Results will be received within an hour.

Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health John Denley said: “As many as one in three people with Covid-19 don’t have any symptoms, but they could still be infectious to others and that's why regular testing is so important.

"We have worked hard to make testing as accessible as possible. We have already set up public rapid test centres at six locations around Wolverhampton and supported local businesses to introduce rapid testing on site.

"The deployment of this mobile test unit, which is at Bantock Park for the next few days and will move to another part of the city next week, will mean that more people can get tested closer to home.

"Regular testing is a key component of the Government's roadmap out of lockdown and I would urge anyone without symptoms of Covid-19 to come along to the mobile test centre at Bantock Park, or indeed to any of our other test sites, and get a free test.

“Chances are you won't have Covid-19, but if you do you will be able to self-isolate and prevent the spread of the virus to others. Ultimately, you will also be playing your part in helping to get the country out of lockdown."

As well as Bantock Park, 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-6.30pm 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.

People who are classed as 'critical workers' and are unable to work from home have priority access to rapid testing at the Civic Centre between 8am and 9am, Monday to Friday; Pendeford Library from 7am-10am and 4pm-6pm, Monday to Friday; and Bilston Community Centre between 8am and 9am Monday, Thursday and Friday. Workers are asked to bring a form of ID to prove eligibility.

John added: "Please remember that, even if you have had the vaccination, it's important to get tested regularly – and that you must continue to follow Government restrictions and 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."

Over 60,000 rapid tests have been completed in Wolverhampton, with nearly 2,000 positive cases being found. These individuals have self-isolated, preventing the spread of the virus to others.

More information on rapid testing for people without symptoms of Covid-19 is available at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus-testing; please go to the Asymptomatic section.

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 154 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the seven days to 24 February. That means 405 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. Information about the vaccine can be found at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/covidvaccine. Further details of the lockdown restrictions currently in place, and the answers to frequently asked questions, are available at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/covidalert.