Coronavirus testing centre opening on Waterfront car park
Another coronavirus testing centre has been set up in the Black Country as the Government continues to "ramp up" capacity.
The mobile unit was opening for tests on a car park at Merry Hill near the waterfront in Brierley Hill today.
The military-led site will be open until Friday for people who have booked an appointment on the Government website.
Rachael Jackson, the general manager at intu Merry Hill, said: "We have been exploring the different ways we can support the community while the centre remains partially open and are pleased to donate one of our car parks for mobile testing so that we can help essential workers and other members of the community access this vital service."
The only people who can apply for a test are those with coronavirus symptoms who are either an essential worker, over 65 or cannot work from home. People who have symptoms and live with people in any of those categories can also apply.
Spaces are limited and frontline workers are being prioritised.
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Another mobile testing unit was set-up at Blakenall Village Centre in Bloxwich last week, along with sites at Staffordshire University in Stafford and the car park of the NEC in Birmingham.
The roll-out of such centres helped the Government hit its target of testing 100,000 people every day by the end of April, although the latest Government figures released showed 85,186 tests were carried out on Sunday.
Specially-trained Armed Forces personnel will collect swabs at the site in Brierley Hill before they are sent to labs for processing, with results provided within 48 hours.
The antigen test only tests if you currently have the virus and involves taking a swab of the inside of the nose and the back of the throat, using a long cotton bud.
Councillor Nicolas Barlow, cabinet member for health and adult social care at Dudley Council, said: "Dudley Council is working with a range of partners to do all we can to stop the spread of coronavirus and we know the additional testing will make a big difference in how we can manage this pandemic."
To book a test, visit www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test
