RESIDENTS in certain parts of Droitwich and Worcester will receive home testing kits this week to test for the South African variant of Covid-19.
It comes after a small number of cases of the strain were detected in the WR3 postcode area.
And people living in WR9 postcodes were urged to get a test to try to prevent the spread of the virus.
Now, Worcestershire County Council will be delivering tests to homes and businesses within the postcodes.
Every household in the identified areas will be visited from Thursday, with a test kit offered to everyone over the age of 18.
The person delivering the testing kits will not carry out the test so the authority is urging people to maintain social distancing.
Anyone who receives a kit will need to register it online and record the barcode number on the container provided.
If that’s not possible, call 119 to speak to the NHS call centre.
These testing kits will then be collected 24 hours later for processing and should not be sent by post.
Dr Kathryn Cobain, director for Public Health in Worcestershire said: “It’s important we test as many people as we can in these areas, to ensure we are identifying people who are carrying Covid-19 without realising.
“This testing will also help us nationally identify the spread of the South African variant.
“If you are offered a test at home and have not visited the two testing sites since Saturday, then please take up the offer.”
If your kit has not been collected between February 14 and 16 you will need to drop it at The White Hart Pub in Fernhill Heath or Worcester Warriors Sixways Stadium.
There will be a dedicated area to drop testing kits off.
Those who cannot drop off their kit can call Here2Help on 01905 768053 to arrange a collection.
The service is available Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4.30pm.
Visit http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/COVID19variant to find out more about testing for the South African variant.
