People with coronavirus symptoms urged to book a test in Wolverhampton

John Denley, director of public health at Wolverhampton Council, made the plea after testing capacity was ramped up in the city.

It means up to 800 tests per day can be carried out across the five Covid-19 testing centres in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.

"Testing is incredibly important. Primarily, of course, it will enable you to find out whether you have got Covid-19 and to then take whatever steps may be necessary as a result.

"But it's also really important in helping us understand where we are as a city in the fight against coronavirus – for instance, whether infection rates locally are going up or down, where in Wolverhampton the hotspots are and, possibly most important of all, what impact the local measures which were introduced last month are having.

"Only by having a really good understanding of how Covid-19 is being transmitted in Wolverhampton will we be able to determine what measures are needed to help beat the virus.

"Without testing data we cannot do this."

The infection rate for the city stands at 62.6 per 100,000 in the seven days up to October 2 – an increase from 56.2 per 100,000 the week before.

But the spike is believed to be linked to 15,841 unrecorded cases in the UK last week as a result of a computer error, with the number added into the latest figures.

Centres in Wolverhampton include a drive-through site at Aldersley Leisure Village and four walk-through sites at Showell Road, Blakenhall Community Resource Centre, Faulkland Street and Mountford Lane – with tests needing to be booked in advance.

Mr Denley added: "We’ve been able to substantially increase our testing capacity over the last few weeks and people shouldn't experience any difficulties booking online or by calling 119 – please remember that you must get tested if you have symptoms of Covid-19, no matter how mild they may be."

To book a test, visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus