Rapid community Covid testing initiative to launch in Mansfield

Run in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, testing will start at Oak Tree Leisure Centre on Tuesday, January 26 and Mansfield Town FC’s One Call Stadium on Thursday, January 28.

Around one in three people who are infected with Covid-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it.

Broadening testing to identify those showing no symptoms will mean finding positive cases more quickly, and break chains of transmission. With its targeted approach, community testing aims to reduce the prevalence of the virus in the highest risk areas.

Mansfield has received lateral flow tests as part of a new pilot to enable local public health leaders to start testing in targeted areas – Ladybrook, Oak Tree and Bellamy wards, as these have a high proportion of people of working age who are unable to work from home.

Testing will be available for asymptomatic individuals aged 18 to 65 years-old who live and work in these wards.

No appointments are needed.

Opening hours at the Oak Tree Leisure Centre test site will be 7am to 3pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays, while opening hours at the One Call Stadium will be 9am to 7pm Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 10am to 2pm on Sundays.

There is free parking at both sites, please avoid using public transport in case you later test positive.

For more information about testing, click here.

In the coming weeks the community testing will be expanded to target people who work in key industries such as retail, food production and distribution, manufacturing and others that are permitted to open during lockdown, before being expanded further to anyone aged 18 to 65 living or working in the district.

All efforts to find people without symptoms work hand in hand with the existing free testing service for those with symptoms.

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 book a test here or by calling 119.

There is a local testing site for people who have symptoms of Covid-19, which is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm at Mansfield Civic Centre on Chesterfield Road South.

You must book an appointment before attending this site for a test.

Coun Andy Abrahams, mayor of Mansfield, said: "By working with our partners to bring community testing to Mansfield we can help our residents to protect themselves and their loved ones and lower the rate of infection.

“Community testing doesn’t work on its own, so it’s vital that we all keep following the national lockdown restrictions.

“I would urge everyone who has the opportunity to get a rapid test to take it and keep showing the amazing community spirit we have seen in Mansfield throughout the pandemic.”

Jonathan Gribbin, director of public health for Nottinghamshire, added: “Around one in three people have the virus but do not have any symptoms, so they could be spreading the disease without knowing.

“Testing will enable us to ensure that the necessary advice and support can be put in place so we can to break the chain of transmission."