People who must leave their homes during lockdown are being urged to keep getting tested, as eight new community testing centres open across Staffordshire on Monday 18 January.
The centres, one in each district and borough, will offer testing seven days a week for people without symptoms. These will be supported by community testing pop-ups in hotspot areas which see the highest numbers of cases.
Dr Johnny McMahon, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Care & Wellbeing, said: “While everyone should be staying at home as much as possible, there are some people who have a legitimate need to be out and about, for example for essential shopping or because they cannot work from home.
“Cases continue to be worryingly high in Staffordshire and we need to do everything we can to protect lives and ease pressure on the NHS this winter. We know that one in three people who have the virus show no symptoms, so that’s why we need everyone who is out and about to get tested on a regular basis to help us stop the spread of infection.
“Testing is quick, simple and free and may well protect the people you care for and the wider community. The new centres will be open seven days a week, so we are asking people who are working during the week to think about making Saturday or Sunday a testing day.”
The sites will be at:
Tests for people without symptoms need to be booked in advance online at https://staffordshire.zipporah.co.uk/TrackAndTrace/. People with symptoms or those who have been asked to self-isolate as a close contact of a Covid case should not attend.
Councillor Doug Pullen, Leader of Lichfield District Council, added: “From the outset Lichfield District Council has played its part in the efforts to tackle the virus and the community testing centre in Burntwood will help identify more people who may unknowingly have the virus, which will in turn help break the chain of infection.
“The new centre will make it even easier to get tested so, if you really must be out, then please make it a habit to book a test regularly as getting tested and sticking to the rules is the best way to protect lives and livelihoods in Lichfield District.”
Tests for people with symptoms of Covid-19 can be booked at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.
