Anyone without symptoms of coronavirus who wishes to get a test on Sunday can instead attend either Pendeford Library between 10am and 6pm or the Jamia Masjid Bilal on Newhampton Road West between 10am and 6.30pm. The Civic Centre will reopen for rapid testing from 8am on Monday.
Rapid testing, which uses lateral flow 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 spreading the virus onto others.
As of yesterday (19 January), over 31,000 rapid tests had been completed in Wolverhampton, with around 4.5% of tests coming back positive.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "Testing people without symptoms of Covid-19 is really important because we know that as many as one in three people who have the virus don't have any symptoms. That means that they won't realise they've got it, but they may still be infectious.
"If we can find these cases, those who are infected are able to self-isolate which will in turn help break the chain of transmission.
"Thousands of people have already taken part in the rapid testing programme in Wolverhampton and, if you're symptom free, I'd encourage you to come along and get yourself tested. Chances are that you won't have Covid-19, but if you do, you’ll be able to take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your loved ones."
Rapid testing is available at the Civic Centre (Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm, except this Sunday); the Jamia Masjid Bilal on Newhampton Road West (10am to 6.30pm daily); Pendeford Library (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm); and St Joseph’s Church, Willenhall Road (Monday to Friday, 2pm to 6pm). No appointment is necessary.
Another rapid test site will open at The Hub at Ashmore Park on Friday. It will be open between 10am and 6pm 5 days a week, except for Wednesdays and Sundays when it is closed.
In addition, testing for people working in education and early years settings is available at Pendeford Library from 7am to 10am and 4pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday; staff are asked to bring their work ID or a pay slip to confirm eligibility.
Rapid testing is not available to people who have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, or to anyone with symptoms of Covid-19, which include a fever, a new continuous cough or a change to the sense of taste or smell. They should immediately self-isolate and book a PCR test by visiting GOV.UK or calling 119.
For full details of rapid and PCR testing facilities in Wolverhampton, please visit Coronavirus Testing.
The latest information and guidance around coronavirus is available at GOV.UK and on the council’s own coronavirus pages. Further details of the lockdown restrictions currently in place, and the answers to frequently asked questions, are available at Covid Alert.
