Everyone with Covid symptoms urged to book tests
Shropshire's public health leaders are urging residents to get a Covid-19 test if they are concerned about any symptoms – even if they aren’t the main ones.
Alongside the three main symptoms (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a change or loss in sense of smell or taste), some people may experience other, milder symptoms that may turn out to be coronavirus.
The list of ‘precautionary’ symptoms includes: headaches, aches and pains, feeling very tired for no good reason, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, and tummy ache in children.
If you develop any of the three classic symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, a persistent cough and a loss of smell or taste), no matter how mild, you should self-isolate immediately and book an NHS test.
You can book a test at gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119 if you do not have internet access. If you don’t have the classic symptoms when you are booking a coronavirus test, click or tell the call handler ‘I don’t have any symptoms’ option.
When asked why you are booking the test, click the option ‘My local council or health protection team has asked me (or someone I live with) to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms’.
Liz Noakes, Director of Public Health at Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “If you have any doubts about whether you have Covid-19 symptoms, I’d urge you to get a test immediately.
"The request for people to come forward for testing is for the purposes of elimination, so you will only need to self-isolate if you are displaying the classic symptoms – a high temperature, a persistent cough and a loss of smell or taste.”
Rachel Robinson, Director of Public Health at Shropshire Council, added: “There’s lots of availability at our testing sites dedicated to those with any coronavirus symptoms.
"Once you’ve taken the test you get your Covid-19 results back within three days.
"Our increased testing for those with and without symptoms means we can quickly identify these cases to help stop the spread of the virus to those most vulnerable.”
Only one in three infected people have symptoms of Covid-19. For people without any symptoms who cannot work from home and need to go to work, Telford & Wrekin Council and Shropshire Council have asymptomatic rapid testing sites available.
These are at The Place Theatre (Oakengates), The Anstice (Madeley), Cosy Hall (Newport), The Lantern (Shrewsbury), the HALO Community Centre (Craven Arms) and various pharmacies in Telford & Wrekin.
Testing is by appointment only and you must not turn up to these rapid testing (asymptomatic) sites if you have Covid-19 symptoms.
To find out more about coronavirus testing, visit sath.nhs.uk/covid19/public/#testing, telford.gov.uk/info/20741/i_have_covid-19_symptoms/5177/getting_a_covid-19_test_in_telford_and_wrekin or shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/information-for-the-public.
