Around one in three people with Covid-19 don’t have any symptoms. So it’s great that free rapid Covid-19 testing is coming for everyone living or working in Sandwell, from Monday 21 December.

Mass testing will help to identify those showing no symptoms, find positive cases more quickly, and help to break chains of transmission.

From Monday 21 December, members of the public living or working in Sandwell who do not have Covid-19 symptoms will be able to book a free Covid-19 test to take place at West Bromwich Town Hall.

You can book your test through this Sandwell Council page. You must not have any Covid-19 symptoms and you must not be self-isolating.

Anyone not able to access the internet can call 0121 569 6999 (weekdays).

With support from Sandwell businesses (we’ll tell you more about them soon), West Bromwich Town Hall has been converted into a large testing site, able to accommodate twelve testing points at any one time.

In contrast to traditional testing methods which can take a few days to return a result, the new rapid testing technology offers a result on the same day.

Please encourage your colleagues and employees to get tests, and help with nationwide efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus during what looks set to be a difficult winter.

Sandwell’s Deputy Council Leader Councillor Maria Crompton said: “If you have no Covid-19 symptoms but want to take a test, then this rapid method gives you a quick result – I’ve been one of the guinea pigs testing out our process and I can tell you it’s very easy.

“Some people will want to get tested on a regular basis so that they can reduce the chance that they will accidentally pass the virus on to someone they love.

“Rapid tests are also being made available to health and care workers, as well as other frontline staff, via their organisations.

“Having a large site at West Bromwich Town Hall will mean we can test lots of people quickly. We will also look to open up more sites in other areas of Sandwell in the near future.”

If you do have symptoms, you must go for a swab test, which you book through the government website.

Keep safe. Here is our suite of coronavirus resources for Sandwell businesses.