Wolverhampton employers urged to help staff access Covid testing
Wolverhampton City Council is urging employers to ensure staff can access regular Covid-19 testing.
The authority is inviting sole traders, the self-employed and people working for small businesses to get tested at one of the city's six rapid test centres.
Rapid testing, which is a quick and easy way to test people without symptoms, is available to businesses large and small, as well as to the self-employed and sole traders.
Critical workers and businesses have priority access to rapid testing at the Civic Centre between 8am and 9am, Monday to Friday, Pendeford Library from 7am-10am and 4pm-6pm, Monday to Friday, and Bilston Community Centre between 8am and 9am on Monday, Thursday and Friday.
Workers are asked to bring a form of ID to prove eligibility.
In addition, medium and large businesses which employ 50 or more people are being encouraged to apply for the Government’s institutional testing offer, to deliver on-site testing within their workplace.
Test kits, support, training and standard operating procedures, will be provided by NHS Test and Trace. Businesses can sign up at gov.uk/get-workplace-coronavirus-tests.
If a business has any questions or requires support, they should email lft@wolverhampton.gov.uk.
Councillor Stephen Simkins, Wolverhampton Council's cabinet member for city economy, said: "Utilising rapid testing is a key tool in ensuring vital services and businesses can continue to operate safely, and ultimately help our city out of lockdown.
"Regular testing of employees will prevent the onward transmission of the virus and protect businesses, employees and the wider community.
"I would encourage all employers in Wolverhampton to ensure that any staff members who cannot work from home are able to access rapid testing twice weekly, either at our public test centres or, in the case of larger employers, on site."
Booking is not essential, but to assist businesses to test regularly, a dedicated Business Booking Portal has been developed.
Reserving a specific slot will allow employees to access a test at a convenient time without having to wait, and slots can be reserved up to five days in advance at bit.ly/3uuEkzD
