Pendeford Library Covid-19 test centre to close on Sunday

The rapid Covid-19 test centre at Pendeford Library will close its doors for the final time at 2pm on Sunday (16 May, 2021).

The site is shutting to enable the reopening of the library in the near future.

People without symptoms of Covid-19 who require a rapid test will still be able to get one for free at the Civic Centre, St Peter's Square (open Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am-2pm), the Jamia Masjid Bilal, Newhampton Road West (open 10am-7pm daily), The Hub at Ashmore Park (open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am-6pm and Saturday, 10am-2pm) and the mobile test unit, which is currently at Wednesfield Community Hub.

Please note, the test site at the Jamia Masjid Bilal is closed tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday for Eid. The Civic Centre will be closed on Sunday (16 May) for essential maintenance.

Alternatively, people can collect free Covid-19 test kits to use at home. These are available from the mobile test unit, Ashmore Park Hub and the Civic Centre, PCR test centres (Showell Road, Faulkland Street Car Park, Mountford Lane Car Park, Blakenhall Resource Centre and Whitmore Reans Library), Bilston and Wolverhampton Markets, WV Active leisure centres, Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre and participating pharmacies (details at https://maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/).

People can collect up to two boxes at a time, containing a total of 14 kits. The kits include step-by-step instructions enabling people to complete their test from the comfort of home.

John Denley, Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, said: “Pendeford Library has played a really important role in the fight against Covid-19, with nearly 10,000 rapid Covid-19 tests taking place there over the last few months. Indeed, through testing there, we have been able to identify 116 positive cases which has helped to stop the spread of this deadly virus.

“It has also acted as a key distribution point for rapid home test kits and, as more people begin to take advantage of home testing, we are now in a position where we can close this site so that it is able to reopen as a branch library in the coming weeks."

He added: "We know that one in three people infected with Covid-19 do not show symptoms yet may still pass it on.

“By getting a rapid test, you can help us prevent the spread of Covid-19; that’s why we are encouraging everyone living in Wolverhampton to get tested twice a week, either at one of our test centres or from the comfort of home."

More information on rapid testing for people without symptoms of Covid-19, including advice about how to take the test at home, is available at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/get-tested.

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.