Additional lateral flow testing sites now open for Birmingham residents

Sheldon Community Centre and York Street Pay and Display Car Park will open from today providing tests for those without symptoms who wish to still check if they are infectious. A third site at Oaklands Youth Centre will also start testing from 24th December.

However, those who have symptoms should ring 119 or go to the NHS website to book a test at one of the 12 local symptomatic testing sites across the city.

The lateral flow test is most useful for identifying people who are infectious on the day of the test but don’t have symptoms. The test isn’t as good at finding the virus early in infection, so its value is mainly in finding infectious people who don’t know they are infected.

People attending the lateral flow sites should bring photo ID and proof of address, or place of work if you work in Birmingham but don’t live here. Because of site security individuals are asked not to bring large bags, and bags may be subject to security checks.

On Friday, a large-scale lateral flow testing site was set up at Utilita Arena Birmingham and has so far completed 1,675 tests, of which 16 tests were positive.

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Together with the vaccination roll-out, increased testing is a key weapon in our battle against coronavirus and this marks a significant step in our city’s work to return to a more normal way of life.

"One in three people who have Covid-19 have no symptoms at all, so testing people without symptoms is one way we can stop the spread of the virus and keep our friends, family members, and neighbours safe."

The testing sites are open from Wednesday with tests conducted from 10:00am to 2:00pm and 4:00pm to 8:00pm.

However, sites will be closed over the Christmas period of 25 December to 28 December, as well as Friday 1 January.

To book a test, please visit the dedicated booking page.