Mobile Walk-In Covid-19 Testing Clinic opens from 10am in Stone in an attempt to control the locally reported outbreak.
[box type=”info” align=”alignleft” class=”” width=””]The Friday testing won’t be going ahead as a walk in clinic – please read the updated advice here.[/box]
As public health officials scramble to get a potential Covid-19 outbreak in Stone under control a walk-in mobile testing unit will be deployed in Stone.
The outbreak centres around the Crown and Anchor Pub in Stone and people who attended on the following dates:
- Thursday 16th July 2020
- Friday 17th July 2020
- Saturday 18th July 2020
Staffordshire County Council has been made aware of a number of positive cases of coronavirus that has been confirmed amongst visitors to the pub on these dates.
Who needs to be tested?
There are three main groups of people who should attend the clinic:
- People who attended (either to drink or work) the Crown and Anchor pub at any time on the Thursday 16th July to Saturday 18th July.
- People who have come into close contact with people who have been in close contact with anyone in group 1.
- Anyone who had been drinking in Stone across that weekend who are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms such as a high temperature, new persistent cough or loss of taste and smell.
Where to go?
The mobile walk-in testing clinic will be in operation from 10am until 5pm on the following dates:
- Wednesday 29th July
- Friday 31st July
No appointments are necessary and the testing clinic will be located at the Stafford Borough Council ran Crown Street Car Park, which is adjacent to the canal.
Do I need to self-isolate?
If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 you need to self-isolate for 14 days.
If you were in the pub on those days, you need to get a test and if you test positive, you will need to self-isolate for 10 days regardless of whether you display any symptoms.
If you test positive, contact tracers will then ask for your close contacts, who will need to self-isolate for 14 days.
NHS Test and Trace
Unfortunately records where not kept by the Crown and Anchor of those who attended which means that the NHS Test and Trace service, which was implemented to speed up this type of operation, is severely hampered.
Director for Public Health at Staffordshire County Council – Dr Richard Harling has said:
“As part of our outbreak control duties, we are dealing with an outbreak at the Crown and Anchor pub in Stone. It is important that anyone drinking or working in the pub on that weekend gets tested as soon as possible, which is why we’ve organised for a mobile testing unit to be in the town all day Wednesday and Friday.
“We also want people who have been in close contact with anyone drinking in the pub on that weekend to get themselves tested, as well as people who were out and about in the town and are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms—namely a high temperature, new persistent cough or loss of taste and smell. It is also crucial that people self-isolate if they are told to do so.
“By getting tested, this gives us important information on the full extent of any outbreak, and allows us to put measures in place if needed to help prevent the spread of infection.
“We’re doing everything we can to prevent outbreaks and stop the virus from spreading. Residents can help by continuing to follow the rules to stop the spread of Covid-19—washing hands regularly, keeping your distance, and wearing face coverings in shops and on public transport.”
For general coronavirus advice including how to book a test, visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
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