Anyone without symptoms of Covid-19 can get a free rapid test, without an appointment, at the unit which is located near to the Tea Rooms.
It will be open from 9am to 7pm until Bank Holiday Monday, 3 May, before moving to Pinfold Street car park in Bilston on Tuesday. People driving to West Park are reminded that there is free parking available around the outside of the park – please do not attempt to drive into the park itself.
John Denley, Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, said: “Twice-weekly rapid testing is key to monitoring coronavirus infections, as evidence shows one in three people infected with Covid-19 do not show symptoms yet may still pass it on.
“Regular asymptomatic testing is helping to stop the virus spreading further, so I would encourage everyone living in Wolverhampton to get a test twice a week.”
As well as the mobile testing unit at West Park, free rapid testing for people without symptoms of Covid-19 is also available at:
- The Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm
- The Jamia Masjid Bilal, Newhampton Road West, 10am to 7pm daily
- Pendeford Library, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm
- The Hub at Ashmore Park, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday, 10am to 6pm
In addition, free Covid-19 home test kits are available for collection from the mobile test unit, Pendeford Library, Ashmore Park Hub and the Civic Centre, PCR test centres, Bilston and Wolverhampton Markets, WV Active leisure centres, Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre and participating pharmacies. People can collect up to 2 boxes – containing a total of 14 kits – at a time. The kits contain step-by-step instructions enabling people to complete their test from the comfort of home.
John added: “A key thing to remember is that recording a negative test is as important as a positive test – the results give us, and especially our Public Health team, vital data and information to monitor and keep on top of the virus. It’s one of the ways we will get back to normal, quicker.”
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 Coronavirus Testing.
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 GOV.UK or calling 119.
