Rapid testing available for borough households and bubbles of school pupils
Borough households with primary school, secondary school and college age children, including childcare and support bubbles, are advised to test themselves twice every week at home, as schools return from Monday 8 March.
The Department of Health and Social Care recently announced that adults in households with primary school, secondary school and college age children, including childcare and support bubbles, are advised to test themselves twice every week at home as schools return from Monday, 8 March.
Households, childcare and support bubbles of primary, secondary and college staff can also be tested.
Twice-weekly testing will also be offered to adults working in the wider school community, including bus drivers and after school club leaders.
The twice-weekly test kits in Telford and Wrekin (for people feeling well, with no coronavirus symptoms - in the above-mentioned groups) can be accessed as follows:
•By going to a community-test site
You can have a rapid test at one of the three Council-run test sites ((in Oakengates, Madeley and Newport)) or participating pharmacies.
Testing at these sites is assisted, which means you will swab yourself under the supervision of a trained operator.
To book a rapid test appointment, go to rapidtest.telford.gov.uk
•By collecting a home test kit from an NHS “Test & trace” site
In Telford and Wrekin, there are 5 NHS “Test & trace” sites – tests can be collected from these sites between 1.30pm and 7pm:
1.Ironbridge Park and Ride, Off A4169, TF4 3QE
2.Legges Way Car Park - Legges Way, Madeley, TF7 5UD
3.The Place Car Park, The Place New Street, Oakengates, TF2 6ET
Please note: This is the Walk In Centre on the Car Park, not the rapid test centre at The Place.
4.Donnington Wood Bowling Club, School Road, Donnington (Telford), TF2 8HU
5.Wrekin Road Car Park, Wellington, TF1 1YZ
Anyone aged 18 or over can collect testing kits - there is no need to book an appointment to collect your testing kit, you can just turn up.
You can collect 2 packs of home test kits at a local collection point, each pack contains 7 tests.
You can check online if the location is busy before you go.
Tests can be collected from any of the test centres shown on the NHS map
Find your nearest home test kit collection point
•By contacting your employer, if your employer provides testing
Some employers may be offering rapid testing, please check with your employer to see if this option is available to you
•By ordering online a home test kit
If you cannot get tested at your workplace, or are unable to go to a test site or collect test kits, you can order online a home test kit.
Please do not order online if you can get a test through other methods.
This frees up home delivery for those who need it most.
Cllr Andy Burford, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care said: “Around 1 in 3 people with coronavirus do not have symptoms but can still pass it on to others.
“Regular testing of people without symptoms (asymptomatic testing) is important to help stop the virus spreading.
“This is why, with schools going back from 8 March, we are encouraging adults of all households and support bubbles of school-aged children to get a rapid test regularly (twice a week, in line with the government’s guidance), if they are feeling well and don’t display any virus symptoms.
“Also, if you have to go to work and you are feeling well, please make use you have a rapid test twice a week. A rapid test can provide peace of mind to let you know your family is protected.
“Anyone with main or precautionary coronavirus symptoms is advised to book a test immediately at one of the borough’s NHS “Test & trace” sites.
“As lockdown restrictions gradually ease, we all need to play our part to help protect each other and reduce the spread in the borough, so as not to go back to tougher restrictions.”
Further information about rapid testing for households and bubbles of school pupils and staff is included in the Government’s recently published guidance.
