People in Smethwick/Cape Hill – where extra testing is taking place to identify the Covid-19 variant first discovered in South Africa – can return their completed home tests at local drop-off points.
Targeted testing is being carried out for people without Covid-19 symptoms living and working in specific streets within the wider B66 3, B66 4 and B67 6 postcode areas.
This follows a case of the variant being identified in the area. The extra testing for people aged 16 and over is to identify any further cases and help prevent the spread of the virus.
Council teams are calling at homes in the area to deliver testing kits. People can now return their completed home tests at several community venues as well as the council’s mobile library which will be touring the area.
People without symptoms can also get tested quickly and easily at the special mobile testing unit behind Smethwick Council House, High Street, which is open 8am to 3.45pm every day. People can walk in or drive in to the testing unit, there is no need to book. Just turn up between these hours.
To check if you live or work in the specific postcodes for targeted testing, visit our extra testing webpage where there is also advice on how to get tested. For anyone not online who needs advice, please call the Healthy Sandwell Team on 0800 011 4656.
Sandwell’s director of public health Dr Lisa McNally said: “We are knocking on the door of homes in the target zone to offer tests.
“We are doing absolutely everything we can to make it as easy as possible to get tested.
“It’s really important if you live or work in any of the specific streets that you get tested. This includes anyone who has been vaccinated, anyone who has had Covid-19 previously and anyone who uses rapid tests. Everyone in these areas should still get tested because the tests we do are looking for the variant first discovered in South Africa.”
Dr McNally added: “If you’ve received a testing kit from our drop and collect team, please return it when our team calls back to collect it or take it to one of the collection points now available.
“I would like to thank local community and faith organisations for supporting this exercise and offering their centres as collection points, as well as our library team for making the mobile library available.
“Please maintain social distancing when returning completed tests.”
Mobile library – test drop-off points:
Date and time / Location:
Tuesday 20 April, 3pm – 6pm – Trafalgar Road
Wednesday 21 April, 3pm – 6pm – Windmill Lane next to St Matthew’s CofE Primary School
Thursday 22 April, 3pm – 6pm – Pool Road
Friday 23 April, 3pm – 6pm – Rosedale Avenue
Saturday 24 April, 12noon – 3pm – Millpool Way
Sunday 25 April, 12noon – 3pm – Windmill Shopping Centre
Monday 26 April, 3pm – 6pm – Windmill Shopping Centre