Shifnal Town Council Covid – Rapid Turnaround Testing Walk-in rapid testing sites, without the need for booking, will be available from 1pm today (Monday 22 February) following sites:

Bridgnorth Community Centre, Severn Street, Low Town, , , WV14 6BB

Shifnal Cricket Club, Priorslee Road, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8HD

The Victoria Centre, Victoria Road, SY11 2HT

There are also council-run rapid testing centres at the Lantern in , the Halo Centre in and the Stanier Hall, Thomas Adams Sixth Form in http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/lfdpublictesting/

Rapid turnaround tests are supplied by NHS Test and Trace and will help identify people who are positive for Covid-19 but have no symptoms. Around one in three people who are infected with Covid-19 have no symptoms. Broadening testing to include those with no symptoms will mean finding positive cases more quickly, and help to break the chains of transmission.

The speedy tests can rapidly turn around results within an hour without the need for processing the swabs in a lab.

The tests are taken using nose and throat swabs and the results are much faster than the standard test which goes to a lab. There are no costs but anyone getting a test will need to follow social distancing and wear a face covering.

If you have symptoms, you should not book a rapid test. Anyone with one or more of these symptoms – a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste, should continue to book a test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

Essential workers without Covid-19 symptoms can now access a rapid test at a number of pharmacies in Shropshire – allowing greater access to testing in some of our more rural areas of the county. These tests are available for people who cannot work from home, who live or work in Shropshire and who do not have any symptoms of Covid-19. Tests can be booked online using https://www.1centralhealth.co.uk/shropshirelft

Please see the following link for a full list of the pharmacies that are offering pre- booked appointments. https://newsroom.shropshire.gov.uk/2021/02/coronavirus- shropshire-pharmacies-to-offer-rapid-testing-for-essential-workers/

Prepared by Denise Reynolds, Town Clerk 22nd February 2021