Mobile testing in Merridale

The mobile COVID-19 testing unit is available at Nishkam Primary School this week.

Free rapid testing is available, without appointment, for anyone who does not have symptoms of Covid-19, at the mobile testing unit at Nishkam Primary School, Great Brickkiln Lane in Merridale from 9am to 7pm from Monday 12 April until Sunday 18 April. The mobile unit will then move to another location the following week.

John Denley, Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, said: “Twice-weekly rapid testing is key to monitoring coronavirus infections, as evidence shows one in three people infected with coronavirus do not show symptoms yet may still pass it on.

“Regular asymptomatic testing is helping to stop the virus spreading further, so I would encourage everyone living in Wolverhampton to get a test twice a week.”

As well as the mobile testing unit at Nishkam Primary School, free rapid testing for people without symptoms of Covid-19 is also 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, 8am-6pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm
• The Hub at Ashmore Park, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am-6pm and 10am-6pm on Saturdays
• St Joseph’s Church, Willenhall Road, Monday-Friday, 2pm-6pm

In addition, and too support twice weekly testing, free Covid-19 home test kits are currently available for collection from Pendeford Library, Ashmore Park Hub and the Civic Centre and participating pharmacies.

From Tuesday (13 April) free home testing kits will also be available for collection from the mobile testing unit.

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 from the comfort of home.

John added: “Alongside vaccination, regular testing is helping to suppress and control the spread of the virus, and is central to getting back to a more normal way of life.”

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 32.9 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the seven days to 09 April. That means 87 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.