West Midlands soldiers helping to ramp up testing in region

Troops from 16th Signal Regiment at Beacon Barracks, Stafford, have been trained to operate mobile testing units (MTUs) at Edgbaston Cricket Ground.

It has seen a total of 32 military personnel work with specialists from Boots Pharmacists to learn how to conduct testing – and how to teach others.

Lieutenant Colonel Pete Brunton, commanding officer of 16th Signal Regiment, said: "The challenge of providing medical testing is different from our usual role of delivering communications but I have no doubt our soldiers are rising to the challenge."

Training has also taken place at the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks in Grantham – with 12 soldiers from 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment, based in Wolverhampton, undergoing intensive training.

A further dozen soldiers from Redditch-based 37 Signal Regiment have undergone the training and are now running an MTU.

Around 50 reservists from the regiment have already been mobilised to boost testing in the region.

Corporal Roehan Olivier, rom the 37th Signal Regiment, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to give back to the community during this time of crisis."

All of the troops are working with the regional testing centre in Edgbaston – with centres set up in Hereford, Stoke-on-Trent and in two separate locations in Walsall.

The units have been designed to clinical requirements by army engineers – and can be easily set up in under 20 minutes.

They are being run alongside drive-through test sites across the UK to rapidly increase the number of tests.

People can be eligible for the test if they are over 65 with symptoms, an essential worker with symptoms, members of an essential workers' household who are symptomatic.

Testing is by appointment only – with appointments made by visiting https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested