Extra drop-off collection points for South African Covid variant tests
Residents living in areas where extra testing is taking place to identify the South African Covid-19 variant can now return their completed home tests at several drop-off points.
Targeted testing is being carried out in Sandwell for those without symptoms, who are living and working in specific streets within the wider B66 3, B66 4 and B67 6 postcode areas. A case of the variant was recently identified in the area.
The extra testing for those aged 16 and over is to identify any further cases and help prevent the spread of the virus, with council teams calling at homes in the area to deliver testing kits.
Residents 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. Drop-off points include Smethwick Jamia Masjid, Masjid Usman, Ileys Community Organisation, SAFS Caring Family Support, Brushstrokes and Smethwick Library.
Anyone 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-3.45pm every day.
There is no need to book at either the walk-in or drive-in testing units.
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.
“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.”
