Sandwell Council urging people to get tested for South African variant
A mobile unit will be collecting tests in the target areas affected by the Covid-19 variant first discovered in South Africa.
People living in the Tipton area are being urged to return completed tests to these mobile collection points, if they are not in when council volunteers call to pick them up.
Director of Public Health Dr Lisa McNally said: “By Friday evening we will have knocked on every residential door in the target zone to offer tests.
“We are doing absolutely everything we can to make it as easy as possible so people are encouraged to take up the opportunity of these home tests.
“To reassure people, these home testing kits are only for people without symptoms - so the mobile collection point does not bring an infection risk to the area.
“People should maintain social distancing when returning completed tests.”
Council drop & collect teams are knocking on doors and giving out home test kits which will then be sent for special sequencing testing to identify any cases of the variant.
If nobody is at home, they will post a missed collection leaflet so that residents know about the alternative service.
Drop and collect tests are being offered door to door in specific streets within the wider DY4 7, DY4 8 and B69 2 postcode areas.
The area is loosely between Birmingham Canal in the north, New Birmingham Road in the south, Coneygree Road in the west and Vaughan Trading Estate in the east.
Alternatively, people in certain zones can call the Healthy Sandwell Team on 0800 011 4656 if they have completed tests that haven’t been collected.