Hull City Council is opening more rapid testing sites to protect the city and residents against the spread of coronavirus.
The new sites are for local workers who are unable do their jobs from home, with test results provided in 30 minutes.
Rapid testing allows us to identify positive cases quickly, which means we can tackle hidden transmission sooner.
The lateral flow testing sites are at Endeavour Learning and Skills Centre in Beverley Road, Ennerdale Leisure Centre in Sutton Road, and Woodford Leisure Centre in Holderness Road.
Volunteers are being asked to come forward to help run the sites.
Councillor Gwen Lunn, portfolio holder for adult services at Hull City Council, said: “As we expand our testing facilities, we are delighted to be able to offer this testing to organisations with key and critical workers who cannot work from home.
“We are pleased to be working with the HEY Smile Foundation and thank them, as well as of course all the heroic volunteers, for playing such a crucial part in protecting the city and residents against the virus.”
Experts say approximately one in three people with Covid-19 do not display symptoms and this fast form of testing is critical to enable key workers continue in their essential roles.
The drive for volunteers is being led by Hull City Council and HEY Smile Foundation, a charity which has played a major part in the community response to the pandemic in Hull and East Riding.
Andy Barber, CEO at HEY Smile Foundation, said: “We’re delighted we can help recruit and train volunteers for the new lateral flow testing sites in Hull.
“More than 900 people have signed up to volunteer across Hull and the East Riding to play their part in meeting and greeting those either arriving for the vaccine or a lateral flow test.
“The focus is now specifically on Hull as the new lateral flow sites continue to see and test as many people as possible and we hope more come forward to help build on the success to date.”
Working alongside council staff, volunteers will help people arriving for tests, help prepare test samples for analysis and results and encourage social distancing and hand sanitising.
You can find out more about volunteering and what the role involves here.
You can register your interest in becoming a volunteer here.
