| From City of York Council We wanted to get in touch about our new offer of symptom-free testing to help keep people safe and businesses open. We know this has been an incredibly difficult year for everyone and are grateful to all businesses for their efforts. In recent weeks the city has driven down the number of cases and we are keen to keep rates low to keep the people we love safe and businesses in the city open. We are rolling out targeted symptom-free testing and have made it available first to those who come in to contact with lots of people as part of their work in retail, leisure or transport. In the coming weeks we will look to roll targeted testing out further to others in the city. Hundreds of appointments have been booked already so please join us and others in the retail, hospitality and transport sector in getting tested to slow the spread. We are jointly working with York St John University to use Foss Sports Hall on the University’s Lord Mayor’s Walk Campus for the symptom-free testing. The facility was used for their successful testing programme before students returned home for the holiday period. If you work in the retail, hospitality or transport sector please get tested and encourage those you work with to as well. This is another way of us keeping people safe and stopping the virus from spreading. Why getting tested is important Around one in three people who have Coronavirus have no symptoms and will be spreading it without realising. Getting tested regularly can help protect your friends, family and your customers and stop the virus from spreading. The rapid-turnaround lateral flow tests, which provide results within 30 minutes, will be used to proactively test individuals without symptoms. This will further support the local effort to drive down the city’s infection rate, as those who test positive and their contacts will be asked to self-isolate. How to book Tests for people working in the retail, hospitality or transport sectors, and who are free of Coronavirus symptoms, will be available to book online by visiting the council website.Individuals who can’t access booking online can call 01904 551 559 to arrange an appointment. The booking line is open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.Appointments are available 7 days a week between 8.30am and 4.30pm. We advise that you regularly book tests (up to twice a week), to help protect people.For more information and to book visit https://www.york.gov.uk/SymptomFreeCOVIDTest The process Getting tested is really easy. You book your appointment turn up and can quickly take a test. Our team will be there to help you as necessary. Then within 30 minutes you can get your result. Even if your test is negative it is still vital everyone keeps up with Hands, Face, Space as there is a possibility that you could be incubating the virus when you tested negative. If you have symptoms Anyone who has Coronavirus symptoms should not book a symptom-free test. They should self-isolate at home, and book a Covid test through the NHS website or calling 119.For more information and to book visit https://www.york.gov.uk/SymptomFreeCOVIDTest |
