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Fifth Covid testing centre to open in Wolverhampton

A new coronavirus testing centre is due to open in Wolverhampton.

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A fifth Covid test centre is opening in Wolverhampton

The walk-in site, at Blakenhall Community Resource Centre, will be the fifth in city and is opening in the coming days in a bid to deal with rising demand for tests.

It came as increasing numbers of people in the city reported difficulties in getting tested, with spaces at a premium due to a lack of laboratory capacity nationally to process the results.

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Lord Bethell, a health minister in the lords, said it was clear that testing needed to be expanded in the city, and that the site was chosen as it was "most suitable" for safely testing as many people as possible.

He said: "I hope this site will make it easier for many people in Blakenhall to access testing.

"This site forms part of a pilot to open new ‘walk-through’ local test sites in England which are easily accessible by foot or on a bike.

"It complements the regional drive-through testing network across the UK and home testing which can both be booked through the government’s online portal.

"In addition, mobile testing units are also travelling the UK, responding to increased regional demand for testing, and supporting hard to reach areas."

Existing testing sites in the city are at Showell Road, Whitmore Reans Health Centre car park, and Mountford Road car park in Bilston. There is a drive-through site at Aldersley Leisure Village.

In recent days some people turning up for a test at the Showell Road and Whitmore Reans sites have been turned away and told to book online.

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