Wolverhampton Homes rolls out rapid testing for staff

Wolverhampton Homes is the latest major employer in the city to roll out regular Covid-19 testing to keep its staff, contractors and customers safe from the virus.

It has set up rapid testing facilities at its Stowlawn hub, enabling members of staff without symptoms of Covid-19 to get tested on a weekly basis.

Rapid testing, which uses lateral flow test technology to provide results in under an hour, can identify cases in people who don't have any symptoms of the virus but who could still be infectious. Anyone who tests positive is then able to self-isolate to prevent the spread of the virus to others.

Shaun Aldis, Chief Executive of Wolverhampton Homes, said: “Regular testing is key to identifying risks early and reducing the spread of infection. I volunteered to be tested first and received my negative result within just 30 minutes.

“This is just the latest in a range of safety measures we’ve put in place to keep people safe, and I trust regular testing of our frontline staff will reassure residents of the concerted effort by Wolverhampton Homes, the City of Wolverhampton Council and our partners to beat the virus.”

Wolverhampton Homes staff can get tested between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. No appointment is necessary.

Andsaldo Nuclear, based on Spring Road, Parkfields, has also rolled out weekly rapid testing to its 200-strong workforce, and several other businesses are taking part in pilot testing in their workplaces. Meanwhile, other employers are encouraging staff to get tested at one of the city's five public rapid test centres.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "It's really important that businesses continue to do everything they can to stop the spread of Covid-19 and keep their workforce and customers safe, particularly staff members who are on the frontline and those who cannot work from home.

"It's great to see employers such as Wolverhampton Homes and Ansaldo Nuclear providing rapid testing to staff and I would encourage other businesses to enable their staff to receive regular testing, either in the workplace or at one of our five rapid test centres.”

Anyone without symptoms of Covid-19 is reminded they can get a free test at one of Wolverhampton’s five public rapid test centres – the Civic Centre (open Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm); the Jamia Masjid Bilal, Newhampton Road West (10am-6.30pm daily); St Joseph’s Church, Willenhall Road (Monday-Friday, 2pm-6pm, Pendeford Library (Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm); and The Hub at Ashmore Park (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10am-6pm).

Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19, which include a fever, a new continuous cough or a change to the sense of taste or smell, must immediately self-isolate and book a PCR test by visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

Latest figures show there were 623.7 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the seven days to 24 January. That means 1,640 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.

Wolverhampton Homes is responsible for managing most of the council homes in the city.