From today Sandwell Council’s mobile library will be visiting locations in the target areas affected by the Covid-19 variant first discovered in South Africa.

People living there are 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. 

Please do carry out a test and make sure it is returned.

The location schedule is as follows:

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.

Healthy Sandwell will take their details and send someone to pick up the completed tests.

The home test kits are aimed at those who can’t get to the new mobile testing unit (MTU) in the car park of Pure Gym, Dudley Port, which is open 9am-3pm seven days a week.

People without symptoms who can get to the MTU are urged to go as soon as possible – you can walk-in without booking, but if you have to drive there you must book an appointment. 

A booking system for drive-in appointments is available on the council’s website.

Go to the testing webpage to check if you’re in the area where you need to get a test and details of how to book.