New testing site to open in Sedgley
A new coronavirus test site will open in Sedgley to boost testing capacity in the north of the borough as cases continue to rise.
Cases in the Gornal area are now at more than 300 per 100,000 for the last seven days, higher than other areas in the borough.
The new mobile testing unit can be accessed on foot or by car via Mill Bank in Sedgley. It is expected to open to the public from this weekend.
It will be open seven days a week from 9.30am to 6pm and appointments must be booked in advance.
The site is on a section of the council’s Bilston Street car park. Anyone that needs to access the test site must enter via Mill Bank.
People who do not need to access the site, should access the car park via Bilston Street. They are advised parking will be limited. No access to the test site will be available from Bilston Street.
The test site is for people who are showing symptoms of coronavirus and will boost the borough’s overall testing capacity.
Other testing sites are available across the borough.
Councillor Nicolas Barlow, cabinet member for health and adult social care, said:
We have to respond quickly as the situation changes so we can keep this virus in check.
We have seen a large spike in the number of cases in the north of the borough, so this test site is there to make it quicker and easier for people to get tested.
Please book a test if you are showing symptoms, even the mildest of symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose or just generally feeling not right. Please help us protect one another.
For those who are well and showing no symptoms please take twice weekly rapid symptom free tests at home and have the vaccine, it’s our biggest defence against the virus. The vaccine van is in central Dudley this week, please go along and grab a jab.
Finally, I’d urge everyone to remain vigilant, keep your social contacts to a minimum and always remember hands, face, space and fresh air.”
For details on testing sites go to - https://www.dudley.gov.uk/council-community/emergencies/coronavirus/coronavirus-testing/local-symptomatic-testing/
More information about symptom free testing is available here - https://www.dudley.gov.uk/council-community/emergencies/coronavirus/coronavirus-testing/symptom-free-covid-19-testing/
The vaccine van will give the Pfizer vaccine to anyone who has not yet had their first dose or those who are due their second dose and had Pfizer the first time. They must have received the first dose eight weeks earlier.
For information on the vaccine van and other locations where the vaccine is available go to - https://www.blackcountryandwestbirmccg.nhs.uk/your-health-services/health-advice/covid-19-vaccination