After the first case of the South African variant of Covid-19 was found in Staffordshire, three new test centres have been opened, including one at Stone Leisure Centre.
Along with centres in Gnosall and Eccleshall, Stone leisure centre will support the already running Kingston Centre in Stafford, to allow even more people to get tested and help stop the spread of the variant.
More than 1,300 people were tested over the weekend and more than 3,500 have already booked a test this week since the call went out for everyone who works or lives in the borough to get tested.
Dr Johnny McMahon, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said: “We continue to have a fantastic response and our message to people who live or work in the borough is to book a test if they haven’t already.
“We now have four Community Testing Centres open and want to test as many people as possible over the next four weeks. This will help us identify any further cases of this more contagious variant and in turn help break the chain of infection.”
The Community Testing Centres for people with no symptoms are open seven days a week and are at The Kingston Centre, Stafford, The Grosvenor Centre, Gnosall, Eccleshall Community Centre, along with the new base at the Leisure Centre.
The county council already offers community Covid testing for people across the county who need to be out during lockdown and has increased the capacity in the Stafford borough area after it was found that a resident tested positive for the variant earlier this year.
Patrick Farrington, Leader of Stafford Borough Council, said: ‘As a council, we are committed to doing everything we can to protect both lives and livelihoods. This means everyone in the borough staying at home as much as possible, sticking to the rules and getting tested to help us control the spread of infection.
“With four Community Testing Centres open across the borough getting tested has never been easier, and may just help protect the life of someone you care for.”
People are allowed to leave their homes to get tested and can book a test in advance at https://staffordshire.zipporah.co.uk/TrackAndTrace/. People with symptoms should book a test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
