Coronavirus: Shropshire pharmacies to offer rapid testing for essential workers
Essential workers without COVID-19 symptoms can now book a rapid test at a number of pharmacies in Shropshire – allowing greater access to testing in some of our more rural areas of the county.
These tests are available for people who cannot work from home, who live or work in Shropshire and who do not have any symptoms of COVID-19. Shropshire pharmacies will be coming online with the coming days and can be booked online using https://www.1centralhealth.co.uk/shropshirelft
This is addition to council-run rapid testing centres at The Lantern in Shrewsbury, the Halo Centre in Craven Arms and the Stanier Hall, Thomas Adams Sixth Form in Wem http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/lfdpublictesting/
Walk-in rapid testing sites, without the need for booking, will also be available from 1pm today (Monday 22 February 2021) at the following sites:
Bridgnorth Community Centre, Severn Street, Low Town, Bridgnorth, WV14 6BB
Shifnal Cricket Club, Priorslee Road, Shifnal, TF11 8HD
The Victoria Centre, Victoria Road, Oswestry SY11 2HT
Rapid turnaround tests are supplied by NHS Test and Trace and will help identify people who are positive for COVID-19 but have no symptoms. Around one in three people who are infected with COVID-19 have no symptoms. Broadening testing to include those with no symptoms will mean finding positive cases more quickly, and help to break the chains of transmission.
The speedy tests can rapidly turn around results within an hour without the need for processing the swabs in a lab.
The tests are taken using nose and throat swabs and the results are much faster than the standard test which goes to a lab. There are no costs but anyone getting a test will need to follow social distancing and wear a face covering.
If you have symptoms, you should not book a rapid test. Anyone with one or more of these symptoms – a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste, should continue to book a test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.
Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, said:
“This is another important way for us to support our residents to stay healthy and well.
We know that people are concerned about unwittingly spreading the virus. These tests offer a way for people to have that peace of mind, and if they do test positive, act quickly to self-isolate and reduce the risk to others.
“These rapid tests will help our frontline workers to get tested regularly. Those testing positive can take immediate action and self-isolate – reducing the impact on the wider community.”
“We have expanded our offer following the success and demand at the our centres at The Lantern in Shrewsbury and Craven Arms Community Centre to offer greater availability and access.”
The local pharmacies offering pre-booked appointments are:
Bishop’s Castle
Bishop’s Castle Pharmacy (Dudley Taylor), Church Street, Bishops Castle, SY9 5AE
Cleobury Mortimer
Cleobury Mortimer Pharmacy (Dudley Taylor), Vaughan Road, Cleobury Mortimer, Kidderminster, DY14 8DB
Craven Arms
Lunts Pharmacy, Drovers House (MSN), The Auction Yard, Craven Arms, SY7 9BZ
Ellesmere
Ellesmere Pharmacy (Day Night), 5 Cross Street, Ellesmere, SY12 0AW
Highley
Highley Pharmacy (MSN), High Street, Highley, WV16 6LP
Oswestry
St Martins Pharmacy, Stans Superstore, St Martins, Oswestry, SY11 3AY
Old Chapel Pharmacy (Day Lewis), 14 English Walls, Oswestry, SY11 2PA
Pontesbury
Pontesbury Pharmacy (MSN), Main Road, Pontesbury, Shropshire, SY5 0RR
Shrewsbury
Radbrook Green Pharmacy (Dudley Taylor), Bank Farm Lane, Radbrook, ST3 6DU
Rhodes Pharmacy (MSN),28 Claremont Hill, Shrewsbury, SY1 1RD
Lunts Pharmacy, The Tannery (MSN), Barker Street, Shrewsbury SY1 1QJ
Lunts Pharmacy (MSN), 1 Hereford Road, Shrewsbury SY3 7QT
Conway Pharmacy 238 Monkmoor Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 5SR
Bicton Heath Pharmacy (Dudley Taylor), Bicton Heath Shopping Centre, Welshpool Road, Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury, SY3 5AD
For local advice and support during the pandemic (especially if you are self-isolating or shielding), call Shropshire Council’s COVID-19 Helpline on 0345 678 9028 (or visit our website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus
