Posted on Monday 12th April 2021
Thousands of households in Tamworth are being encouraged to take a Covid home test - as a mass testing pilot gets underway today. (Monday)
NHS Test and Trace, in partnership with Staffordshire County Council, Tamworth Borough Council and the Royal Mail will be targeting around 6,000 households in the Glascote and Stonydelph areas to help stop the spread of infection and learn more about how the virus is being transmitted.
Kits will start arriving from today and people are being asked to register their kit, take a test and drop it off at one of the special collection points in the local community over the next few days.
Dr Richard Harling, Staffordshire County Council’s Director of Health and Care, said:
“With lockdown restrictions lifting further today, we need to do everything we can to make sure we can keep life moving again.
“We know that around one in three people who have the virus show no symptoms, so getting tested regularly is going to be key to managing the spread of infection as shops, pubs and other businesses reopen and we are out seeing family and friends once again.
“Kits are being delivered to every household and we have set up local collection points to make it quick and easy for everyone to get tested and make this pilot work.
“Everyone who lives in Glascote or Stonydelph is being asked to take part in this special pilot. It only takes a matter of minutes to get tested and will help us learn more about how the virus is spreading locally and may just save the life of someone they care for.”
Home PCR tests will be arriving in the next two to three days and should be returned only to the special collection points below. Everyone in the household should take a test, even if they are part of a work or school scheme or have had a vaccine.
Andrew Barratt, Chief Executive of Tamworth Borough Council, said:
“Although people in the borough have worked hard to bring down cases, the rate remains the highest in the county.
“This is an opportunity for families in Glascote and Stonydelph to help us continue to tackle the virus and I would encourage everyone to take part in the pilot this week.”
The Community Collect Points for the NHS Test and Trace Glascote and Stonydelph Pilot ONLY will be at the following places between April 13 and April 16.
The collection points are:
- St Peter’s Church, Hawksworth, Glascote Heath, B77 2HH. Opening times: 09.00 -15.30
- Glascote Children’s Centre, Hawksworth, Glascote Heath, B77 2ER. Opening times: 08.30 -16.00
- Magraths Pharmacy, 68 Caledonian, Tamworth. B77 2ED. Opening times: 09.00-16.00
- Pennymoor Community Centre, Pennymoor Road, Tamworth B77 4LG. Opening times: 09.00 -16.30 (closed Wednesday 14/04/21)
- Stoneydelph Pharmacy, 29 Ellerbeck, Wilnecote, Tamworth, B77 4JA. Opening times: 09.00 -17.30 (closed 13:00-14:00)
- Watsons GH Newsagents, Pennymoor Road, Wilnecote, Tamworth, B77 4LG. Opening times: 08.00 -19.00
- Sacred Heart Church, Silver Link Road, Glascote Heath, Tamworth, B77 2EA. Opening Times: 08.00 -19.00
To find out more about the Pilot Testing please see www.staffordshire.gov.uk/coronavirus