[COVID-19] South African Variant in south west Birmingham: Who should get tested and how?

With cases of the South African variant of COVID-19 being identified in south west Birmingham, Birmingham City Council are working with public health officials and NHS Test and Trace to contain the variant of the virus.

People who live and work in certain areas are being asked to get tested at designated centres.

Here we explain who is being asked to get tested, how and when.

Why are we being asked to get tested?

Cases of the COVID-19 variant initially identified in South Africa have been detected in the area. The cases did not have a travel link to South Africa. Everyone within a radius of the cases is being asked to get tested even if they have no symptoms. This is to try and find a link to why the cases have ended up in this area and how prolific it is.

Who should get tested?

• Aged 18 years or over
• Lived or worked in the affected area since January 1st 2021
• The whole of Frankley Great Park ward
• Part of Northfield ward and Rubery Rednal ward between Frankley and the A38 (see map and use postcode checker below)

Use the postcode checker to see if you need to get a test

Searchable map based on the official BCC map (courtesy Gary Sambrook MP’s team):

When should I get tested?

• By 18th February 2021
• You do not need to isolate until you have a test result

Where should I get tested?

If you have NO symptoms:

It is important people test through these designated sites only because samples are sent back to a specific laboratory for analysis and individuals should get their results within 48 hours. There is no need to book. *Please take: a pen, a mobile phone, hand sanitiser and wear a face covering

• Longbridge St Modwen Site:
  • Drive through and walk in
  • Bristol Rd South B31 2SU : opposite Longbridge Lane / Bournville College
  • 8am – 4pm daily
    
• Mobile Test Unit:
  • Walk-in
  • Empire Cinema, Great Park B45 9JL
  • 8am – 4pm daily
• Home Test Kits: 
  • Collect & drop
  • Hollymoor Centre, 8 Manor Park Grove, Northfield B31 5ER
  • Return your test back to the site within 24 hours of collection
  • 8am to 6pm daily (returns by 5pm please)
    * Please note: When registering your test online:
    • when asked for your Order ID, clock the text link ‘Register your kit a different way’ at the bottom of the page
    • When asked for your Royal Mail barcode, click ‘I do not know my Royal Mail barcode’. 
• Door to Door Drop & Collect:
  • Birmingham City Council is working with NHS and Public Health England to carry out door to door testing for coronavirus
  • Test kits will be dropped off and collected later the same day.
  • The team will all have ID badges and can be verified if you have concerns
• Workplaces:
  • BCC are working with local businesses to make testing available for their staff in workplaces and employers are being written to with details of this.
  • Employers can register for drop and collect of tests for staff online

Results

• You must register your test online as instructed so you can get your results
• You should get your test result within 24-48 hours
• If you are positive you must self-isolate and you will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace
• Any positive coronavirus tests will be further tested to identify the variant. This takes 7-10 days and you will only be contacted again if you have the South African variant

If you have coronavirus symptoms:

• Book a free NHS test to check if you have coronavirus.

For more information and Frequently Asked Questions visit the Birmingham City Council website