Posted on Friday 15th January 2021
A fleet of “Let’s Get Tested” vans are to be rolled out across the county to bolster Staffordshire County Council’s efforts to tackle Covid-19 and test more people without symptoms.
The mobile rapid-testing vans which will provide pop-up community testing across the county and support the new Community Testing Centres when they open their doors next week.
Many Staffordshire employers are also joining the mass-testing blitz. Alton Towers were offering both community and workforce testing earlier today (Friday, 15 January).
Central to health chief’s plans is asking all residents who need to be out and about during the lockdown to have regular Covid-19 tests, even if they don’t have symptoms and anybody in a hotspot area to get a test.
The move aims to tackle the “silent spreaders”, people who carry the virus but have no symptoms. The county council aims to test thousands of asymptomatic people every day by February.
The latest average seven-day Covid rate in Staffordshire is currently 430 per 100,000 population, lower than the West Midlands rate of 567 and the England rate of 550.
Dr Johnny McMahon, Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said:
“We are now at the end of the second week under national lockdown and people must not leave or be outside their home except where necessary. This is the law.
“Some people may need to leave home for example to shop for basic necessities, or to go to work, if they cannot work from home.
“If people do need to leave their homes then testing across the county is available to check whether they have the virus before they have contact with others.
“The County Council and partners have worked hard to ensure there is lots of availability for residents to get a rapid test.
“The message should now be crystal clear – if you need to have contact with others get tested regularly. If you live in a hotspot location book that test today.”
The Covid-19 community testing sites and hotspot areas are as below:
| District / borough | Community testing sites | Hotspot areas |
|---|
|
Cannock Chase
|
Norton Canes Community Centre, Brownhills Road, Norton Canes, Cannock, WS11 9SF
January 16 and 17
Cannock Leisure Centre, Stafford Road, Cannock, WS11 4AL
January 18 - 24
|
Brereton and Ravenhill, Cannock East, Cannock North, Cannock South, Hagley, Heath Hayes East and Wimblebury, Hednesford Green Heath, Hednesford North, Hednesford South
|
|
East Staffordshire
|
Hillfield House, Hillfield Lane, Burton-upon-Trent, DE13 0BW
January 16 - 24
|
Anglesey, Branston, Brizlincote, Burton, Eton Park, Horninglow, Shobnall, Stapenhill, Stretton
|
|
Lichfield
|
Lichfield City FC, Brownsfield Road, Eastern Avenue, Lichfield, WS13 6AY
January 16,17 and 22,23, 24
Burntwood Leisure Centre, High Street, Chasetown, Burntwood WS7 3XH
January 18 - 21
|
Alrewas and Fradley, Chasetown, Curborough, Fazeley, Shenstone, Summerfield and All Saints
|
|
Newcastle-under-Lyme
|
Bradwell Lodge Community Centre, Bradwell Lane, Porthill, Newcastle, ST5 8PS (this is a separate location to Bradwell Hospital)
January 16 and 17
Seabridge Centre, Roe Lane, Clayton, Newcastle, ST5 4AZ
January 18 - 24
|
None
|
|
South Staffordshire
|
Wombourne Library, Church Road, Wombourne, Wolverhampton, WV5 9EZ
January 16 - 24
|
Bilbrook, Brewood and Coven, Cheslyn Hay South, Essington, Great Wyrley Town, Huntington and Hatherton, Perton Lakeside, Trysull and Seisdon, Wombourne North and Lower Penn, Wombourne South East, Wombourne South West
|
|
Stafford
|
Kingston Centre, Fairway, Stafford, ST16 3TW
January 16 - 24
|
Doxey and Castletown, Forebridge, Holmcroft, Penkside
|
|
Staffordshire Moorlands
|
Werrington Village Hall, Ash Bank Road, Stoke, ST2 9EE
January 16 and 17
Biddulph Leisure Centre, Thames Drive, Biddulph, ST8 7HL
January 18 - 24
|
None
|
|
Tamworth
|
Sacred Heart Church, Silver Link Road, Glascote Heath, Tamworth, B77 2EA
January 16
Wilnecote Parish Hall, 40 Watling St, Two Gates, Wilnecote, Tamworth B77 5AD
January 17
Tamworth College, Croft Street, Tamworth, B79 8AE
January 18 - 22
|
Amington
|
Community Testing Pop-Ups to be added once confirmed.
If there is no availability, you can book a traditional test at one of the national sites at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus and choose the option “my council has asked me to book a test. Anyone with symptoms should only book a national test. Anyone who is self-isolating as a close contact should only book a test if they develop symptoms and this should be through the national system only.