New pilot Covid-19 test centre to open in Stafford
A new Covid-19 pilot test centre in Stafford is set to open its doors next week – in a bid to help more people with symptoms get tested.
Residents must try the national portal first before booking on the pilot schemes in Fenton, Burton or Stafford – and they must be a resident of Staffordshire or Stoke-on-Trent to attend.
Centres will be open between 9am and 2.30pm.
Booking is by appointment only 48 hours in advance and is live from today.
Only one hundred tests are available for each day – so anyone without an appointment will not be seen.
The pilot will run in Fenton Manor on Monday and Tuesday, the Red Lion Community Centre, in Burton, on Wednesday and St Chads, in Burton, on Thursday, and the Kingston Centre, in Stafford on Friday.
If successful, more tests will be made available.
Alan White, Staffordshire County Council's leader, said: "We want to do everything we can to ensure everyone in Staffordshire who has Covid-19 symptoms gets a test, as this will help us curb the spread of infection.
“We know that people have had difficulty in booking a test on the national website, so we have turned around this local solution quickly to help more people who need a test get one.
“I would stress that this is a pilot scheme and slots are limited, so please try the national portal first and only book a test if you have symptoms.”
To book a slot, visit www.staffordshire.zipporah.co.uk/TrackAndTrace/.
