More pick up locations for Covid-19 rapid home test kits

Wednesday, 31 March 2021 16:57

Covid-19 rapid home test kits can now be picked up from more locations in Wolverhampton.

People who work in a school or college, who live or bubble with someone at school or college, childcare providers and people working in an occupation critical to the reopening or schools, are eligible for home testing and are urged to get tested twice week to help keep the city's schools Covid-secure.

Rapid testing is crucial in the fight against coronavirus as it helps find cases in individuals who don't have any symptoms. They are then able to self-isolate, preventing the spread of Covid-19 to others.

People can pick up their free rapid Covid-19 home test kits from the rapid test centres at 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).

They are also now available from the PCR test centres at Showell Road, Blakenhall Resource Centre, Whitmore Reans Library, Faulkland Street car park, and Mountford Lane car park, Bilston between 2.30pm and 8pm each day. Please note that opening hours at pick up points will vary over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

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 and report the result of their test from the comfort of home.

Anyone testing at home is reminded that they must report a test result, even if it is negative, via www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result or by calling 119 to help keep everyone safe and build up an accurate picture of the spread of the virus in the city.

Home test kits are currently only for people who fall into the categories listed above. Anyone without symptoms of Covid-19 can get tested at one of Wolverhampton's rapid test sites – details at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus-testing.

All secondary pupils are urged to continue having twice-weekly rapid Covid-19 tests and are provided with home test kits by their school.

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.