Almost 60,000 rapid Covid-19 tests for people without symptoms carried out in Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton Council revealed the figures as part of a plea to residents in the city to get tested regularly to help curb the spread of the virus.

Six rapid Covid-19 testing centres have already opened across Wolverhampton, with people without symptoms able to get tested every day of the week.

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John Denley, director of public health, said: "As many as a third of people with Covid-19 don't have symptoms of the virus, but they could still pass it on to others.

"That's why getting tested regularly is so important; by doing so will ensure that you are don't unknowingly spread Covid-19 onto friends, family or work colleagues.

Important

"Testing is a key component of the Government's roadmap to get the country out of lockdown, and the onus is on us all to play our part.

"It's particularly important to get a regular test if you cannot work from home. As a council, we are encouraging all our staff who cannot work from home to be tested twice a week, and those that can work from home to be tested weekly, and I would ask local employers to protect their workforce and the wider community by enabling their colleagues to be tested regularly."

Latest figures show there were 165.9 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the seven days to February 22. It means 436 people in the city tested positive for the virus in that seven day period – though the true number of new cases is likely be considerably higher.

Mr Denley added: "Our rapid testing programme has helped infection rates in the city drop significantly, and I would urge anyone without symptoms of Covid-19 to play their part by getting tested so that, together, we can break the chain of transmission and get out of lockdown successfully."

Visit wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus-testing and go to the asymptomatic section for more information.