Extended opening hours, additional pop-up community testing and a new semi-permanent site have been put in place to make it even easier for Staffordshire residents to get a covid-19 test. The later hours - on a Thursday – include availability at Biddulph Valley Leisure Centre on Thames Drive. People who must leave their homes to make essential visits are being urged to get tested regularly in one of Staffordshire’s community testing centres. Each district or borough has a semi-permanent site open seven days a week. A new semi-permanent site at Brough Park Leisure Centre in Leek, additional mobile pop-ups and some sites having extended opening hours are in place from this week to make it even easier for people to make getting a test part of their weekly routines. Many of the county’s semi-permanent sites will now open earlier (from 8am) with others being available to book into the early evening on Thursdays (1pm–7pm). These introductions come as people in Staffordshire are being reminded not to become covid-complacent, as cases still remain high. Dr Johnny McMahon Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for health, said: “A lot of hard work has been put in to get our community testing programme to this level. For people who need to leave the home and be out and about we continue to strongly urge the need to get tested regularly. “Testing is quick, simple, free, seven days a week and now available early mornings and into the evening. “Being able to provide this level of flexible access for residents is important, as we know getting tested regularly as part of a weekly routine is one of the best ways to break the chain of transmission and control the virus.” Availability for tests is good and should be booked in advance online at zipporah.co.uk. People with symptoms or those who have been asked to self-isolate as a close contact of a covid-19 case should not attend.
