Atherstone businesses urged to support staff testing by county council

Atherstone businesses are being urged to get their staff tested regularly using one of six centres in the county, for those without symptoms of Covid-19.

Atherstone's closest test centres, located in Nuneaton and Water Orton are being run by Warwickshire County Council in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, district and borough councils and community partners.

Each centre is set up to undertake around 2,000+ testsper weekand uses lateral flow testing.

Warwickshire County Council is currently urging key workerswith no symptoms, especially those whose roles require them towork outside their homes,whocome into contact withothers, and who can't get a test through a different channel to book a test immediately.

Please note these tests are not for people who have been identified as a close contact of a case and asked to self-isolate, in this instance please call 119 or visit the NHS website if you develop symptoms, you can then book for a drive through or home test kit.

Employment sectorsinclude, but are not limited to:

- Essential shops, supermarkets,financial services

- Food production,processing

- Warehousing, packing,distribution

- Transportation

- Essential public sector services including wasteservices, security, and blue light services etc

- Construction, utilities,communications

- Agency workers

- Health, social care, education and early years staff

- Manufacturing

Talking about the test centre facilities, Director of Public Health Warwickshire, Dr Shade Agboola said: "It has never been more important to tackle the transmission of Covid-19 than it is now, withhigh case numbers and hospitals facing growing pressures.

"Lateral flow – or rapid result – testing is just one way we can helplimitthe movement of the virus amongstpeople with no symptoms, and it is available now free in Warwickshire. These tests provide results in around an hour and can be taken weekly atone of six test sites.

"If you employ fewer than 250people,I encourage you to promote these tests to yourstaff andsupport them to get tested weekly. We would advise that your staff book their tests online at to ensure they get a place."

If you employ more than 250 people, you are encouraged by Government to set up your own workplace scheme.

Businesses are urged to contact [email protected] or [email protected] to find out how they can arrangededicatedtesting for their staff.

Testsare available for bookingbetween 8.15am and 8pm, Monday to Friday and10.15am to 4pmon Saturday and Sunday.

Workers are told not visit the test centre if they have symptoms of Covid-19; that is a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a change to their sense of taste or smell or if you have been advisedtoself-isolate.