No need for appointment at Shropshire Council-run testing sites

From Tuesday all council-run testing sites will offer lateral flow tests as a walk-in service – meaning people can get their speedy test without an appointment.

Rapid home testing kits are also available for collection at these locations.

Council-run symptom-free testing centres are located at:

• Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

• The Lantern , Meadow Farm Drive, Harlescott

• Craven Arms Community Centre,

• Stanier Hall, Thomas Adams Sixth Form, Noble Street, Wem

Free rapid lateral flow tests are available for people with no Covid-19 symptoms. They are self-administered, with a simple swab of the throat and the nose. Test results are available within 30 minutes.

Walk-in symptom-free testing is also available at:

• Bridgnorth Community Centre

• Raven House, 129 Cheshire Street, Market Drayton

• The Victoria Centre, Oswestry

Several Shropshire pharmacies also offering rapid testing for people who cannot work from home. Tests can be booked online using 1centralhealth.co.uk/shropshirelft

People with symptoms of Covid-19 should not go to any of the rapid testing centres. Instead, they should stay at home and book a PCR test online or by calling 119.

Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, said: “Our aim is easier for people to get access rapid testing. Testing is, and will remain, one of the crucial factors in reducing transmission and beating this virus, along with the vaccination programme, as well as us all continuing to follow social distancing guidelines and remembering hands, face, space.

“Lateral flow tests only measure if someone is infectious at that point in time. If anyone has a negative test and goes on to develop any symptoms, they must self-isolate immediately and arrange a standard PCR test at one of the county’s four testing sites.

“Anyone who has a positive test must self-isolate immediately and follow the advice given by the local contact tracing team or the NHS Test and Trace service. It is vital that people identify contacts to help stop the spread of the virus.”

Anyone who has had a confirmed positive test result for Covid-19 must not book a symptom-free test until after 90 days from the date of the positive result.

It is recommended that people with other symptoms seek a standard Covid-19 PCR test to help slow the spread of the virus. Any adult has a headache, aches and pains, feels very tired for no good reason, a sore throat, a runny nose or sneezing episodes can now be tested. Children with upset stomachs or tummy ache can also book a standard Covid-19 test. People in this group should not attend for a lateral flow test.