Essential workers across Herefordshire, who cannot work from home, are being urged to join an initiative to help drive down the number of COVID-19 cases by doing twice-weekly rapid tests (known as Lateral Flow Tests).
Four council test centres for people without COVID-19 symptoms are now open for bookings in Herefordshire. They are in Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury and Leominster, and critical businesses and essential workers who need to attend a workplace, are invited to use the testing facilities.
In addition, tests for people without symptoms will also start to become available at selected community pharmacies across Herefordshire.
The scheme is part of the Government’s Community Asymptomatic Testing Programme and is being run locally by Herefordshire Council.
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 help break the chain of transmission.
With its targeted approach, this programme aims to improve the detection of positive cases so people can isolate and prevent spreading the disease in the workplace and reduce the prevalence of the virus in some of the highest risk areas. It is being used in addition to the established testing venues, which are for anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 in Herefordshire.
Eligible workers can book an appointment at a community asymptomatic test site by following the link on the Council’s website. The rapid tests produce a result in up to 2 hours and people are notified by text message or email. Anyone who does not receive their result within 12 hours, should take another rapid test.
The rapid testing sites in Herefordshire are:
Hereford City - ThePoint4, Venns Ln, Hereford, HR1 1DT
- Monday: 8am – 2pm
- Tuesday: 12:30pm – 6:30pm
- Thursday: 8am – 2pm
- Friday: 12:30pm – 6:30pm
- Saturday: 9am – 1pm
Ross-on-Wye - Ryefields Centre, Grammar School Close, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7QD
- Monday: 8am – 2pm
- Thursday: 12:30pm – 6:30pm
Ledbury – The Master’s House, Bye St, Ledbury HR8 1EA
- Tuesday: 7:30am – 12noon
- Friday: 2pm – 6:30pm
Leominster - Old Priory, The Priory, Leominster, HR6 8DA
- Monday 12:30pm – 6:30pm
- Wednesday 8am – 2pm
The first community pharmacy currently offering rapid tests is:
- Westfields Walk Pharmacy, Leominster, HR6 8HD
Book a community pharmacy test here.