This is where you can get a rapid Covid test in the borough from Monday

Rapid Covid-19 tests will be available to local residents at four sites across the borough from next week.

The new FAST (Find and Stop Transmission) testing programme being rolled out from Monday aims to identify people who have the virus but have not fallen ill.

Those who test positive will then know to self-isolate, helping to slow the spread of the virus in the borough.

Anyone who cannot work from home or comes into regular contact with the public is encouraged to take up the offer to protect themselves, their loved ones, and other residents by getting tested.

The 30-minute, self-administered tests are free, but strictly for people who do not have Covid symptoms.

From Monday 18 January FAST tests will be available at the following sites in the borough.

• Heywood – Heywood Sports Village, West Starkey Street, Heywood OL10 4TW (both a walk-in site and a drive-through site)
• Middleton – Bowlee Sports Centre, Windemere Road, Middleton M24 4LA
• Rochdale – Nye Bevan House, Maclure Road, Rochdale OL11 1DN

A further site is due to open in Littleborough, but an exact location and start date are yet to be confirmed.

All sites are open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm at weekends. There is no need to book - just turn up at one of the sites.

People are encouraged to get tested every week to provide greater protection to themselves and others.

 

 

Andrea Fallon, director of public health at Rochdale Council, has stressed the importance of identifying asymptomatic cases in the population.

She said: “We cannot get away from the fact that one in three people who have Covid-19 show no symptoms. 

“This means that those people who cannot work from home and are more in contact with the public could unknowingly pass the virus on, with devastating consequences. 

“The whole borough has given up so much and supported us all throughout these hard times. Now, more than ever, we need to pull together and get tested; not just for ourselves, but for each other.”

There will also be roving test centres going out into the community and workplaces to reach people directly, especially where there are high transmission rates.

Initially the army will be providing some personnel support to the sites. This will involve officers supporting with directions, car park management, and explaining next steps.

Ms Fallon has also called on people who do test positive to disclose all their contacts and reassured them there will be no repercussions. 

She said: “No one’s going to tell you off for coming into contact with someone, that’s not going to happen. All we want to do is find out. Information is power here, it’s power against the virus.”

Councillor Daalat Ali, cabinet member for healthy lives, has urged frontline workers to take full advantage of the new testing sites.

He said: “I’m delighted to see the speed in which we’ve got this testing available to our residents. A key way we will fight the spread is if we all come together, get tested weekly and follow the guidelines in place. It’s so important that our frontline workers take this up. They’ve done so much for the borough; this testing service is for them and to help protect them.”

Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms must not attend. They should book a test via the NHS website or by phoning 101.   

Masks should be worn during the test and social distancing adhered to at the testing sites.

Results are given via text or email half an hour after the test.

Those who test positive will need to self-isolate and take a PCR test for those with symptoms at one of the borough’s Covid-19 test centres.

If that also comes back positive, self-isolation will need to continue for 10 days from the date of the FAST test.

Support of up to £500 for those that test positive is available if isolation would impact on your income. More information on this support and the testing available can be found here: rochdale.gov.uk/Coronavirus

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter