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 onto others.
The new rapid test centre, at St Joseph’s Church, Willenhall Road, will be open Monday to Friday from 2pm to 6pm, from this Friday. A further rapid test centre is due to open in Pendeford later this month.
They join the city’s 2 existing rapid test facilities, at the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Civic Centre which is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm, and the Jamia Masjid Bilal on Newhampton Road West, which is open from 10am to 6.30pm daily.
Around 21,000 rapid Covid-19 tests have now been conducted in Wolverhampton. Anyone without symptoms is invited to attend for a rapid test; appointments are not necessary. Please note, 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.
People with symptoms – a new, continuous cough, a fever or a change to their sense of taste or smell – must self-isolate and book a test at one of the city’s PCR Covid-19 test centres by visiting GOV.UK or by calling 119. Walk-through PCR test centres are located at Showell Road, Whitmore Reans Library car park, Blakenhall Resource Centre and Mountford Lane car park in Bilston and are open daily from 8am to 8pm. The drive through PCR test centre at Aldersley Leisure Village is open daily from 9am to 3pm.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "We have an extensive network of testing facilities across Wolverhampton for people with and without symptoms of Covid-19.
“The message is clear; if you develop symptoms of Covid-19, you must self-isolate and book a test at one of our five PCR test centres immediately.
“And if you don’t have symptoms and want to take part in the rapid testing programme, please come along to one of our rapid test centres which can be found at the Civic Centre and the Jamia Masjid Bilal and, from Friday, at St Joseph’s Church.
“You'll get your result inside an hour and, if it turns out you have got Covid-19, you’ll be able to take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your loved ones."
Father Craig Fullard, from St Joseph's Church, said: "We’re really pleased that in the St. Newman Cluster we are able to play our small part in helping our city combat this virus which has affected all our lives so negatively over the last nine months.
"It has been a privilege to have worked alongside people of different faiths and those of no faith in other test centres and we look forward to continuing to do so as we move forward."
For full details of Covid-19 testing services in Wolverhampton, please visit GOV.UK. Free short stay parking is available at St Peters Car Park off Wulfruna Street for people attending the Civic Centre for a test.
Latest figures show there were 889.7 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the 7 days to 3 January. That means 2,340 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.
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.
