Posted on Monday 28th December 2020
Residents living or visiting Staffordshire Covid hotspots are being urged to get tested – especially if they have travelled out of the area or joined a Christmas “bubble”.
With cases still on the rise nationally and new more contagious strains spreading rapidly, people are now being urged to book a test even if they don’t have any symptoms.
Rapid Covid testing is taking place at a number of locations for residents of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent only. Results will be available in around 30 minutes.
East Staffordshire continues to have the highest seven-day Covid rate at 305 per 100,000 population and there is currently plenty of availability for people in the Burton hotspots to get tested.
People with symptoms or those who have been asked to self-isolate because they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, should not attend the community testing sites.
If there is no testing taking place locally, residents can book via the national portal at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus and choose the option “my local council has asked me to book a test”. People with symptoms should self-isolate and also book a test through the national site only.
There are Government testing centres in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Newcastle, Cannock, Burton and Rugeley. The site will automatically offer you a test closest to where you live.
Dr Richard Harling, Staffordshire County Council’s Director of Health and Care,said:
“While many people will have enjoyed Christmas Day as part of a their “bubble”, the risk of catching and spreading Covid-19 increases with the more people you see.
“So, we are asking all Staffordshire residents who live in, or who have visited a Covid hotspot, to get tested, as this is the best way of identifying more people who may unknowingly have the virus.
“People can book now for the coming days at our community testing sites for a rapid test. If there is no availability, people can also book a traditional test at one of the national sites across the county.”
The current Covid hotspot areas are:
- Cannock Chase – Cannock Town
- East Staffordshire – Burton (all town wards), Needwood and Rolleston
- Lichfield – None
- Newcastle – Whole borough
- South Staffordshire - None
- Stafford – Coton and Littleworth
- Staffordshire Moorlands - Werrington and Cellarhead
- Tamworth – None