Posted on Wednesday 7th October 2020
The opening of a further national COVID-19 testing site in the county has been welcomed by leaders in Staffordshire today. (Tuesday)
The walk-through testing site at Burton Town Hall will help more people with symptoms get tested and must be booked via the Government’s national booking portal at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by phoning 119. Following the pilot launch today, it will be open 10am to 5pm tomorrow and then from 8am to 8pm every day thereafter.
Staffordshire County Council has been working with the Government to offer more testing across Staffordshire and this is the fourth Local Testing Site to open its doors in the county, with the others in Cannock, Newcastle and on the Keele University campus.
Dr Johnny McMahon, the county council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said:
“The people of Burton have done a great job in supporting our efforts to contain a COVID-19 outbreak in parts of the town and it is important that we all continue to play our part, stick to the rules and stay home and get tested if we have any symptoms.
“Knowing who has the virus is hugely important in helping us identify who needs to self-isolate and who they have also been in close contact with, which in turn helps us stop the spread of infection further.”
The new walk-through centre is in addition to the Mobile Testing Unit at the Pirelli Stadium – both should be booked through the national portal. There is also a community testing portal in the town tomorrow and more details are available at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/coronavirus on the book a test tab.
Duncan Goodfellow, Leader of East Staffordshire Borough Council, said:
“The borough council is doing everything it can to protect its most vulnerable and keep Burton open for business and this extra facility will help strengthen our efforts to tackle COVID-19.
“So please, if you do have symptoms book a test today as this it the best way to protect your family, your friends and your local community.”