COUNCIL staff will be knocking on residents' doors in some areas of the city to offer them free Covid tests from tomorrow.

The move is part of plans to encourage more people to take regular symptom-free Covid tests.

It is not a response to increased cases in any area or the confirmation of cases of a variant of concern in the city last week, a council spokesperson said.

The said council staff will visit the following streets tomorrow to offer free Covid tests: 

  • Wolsley Street
  • Gordon Street
  • Willis Street
  • Wellington Street
  • Barbican Mews

Public health bosses are encouraging residents to take a Covid test twice a week.

Covid tests will be offered at the vaccination centre, to employers across the city and at the University of York, York St John University, York Leisure Centre at the York Stadium Leisure Complex, Acomb Explore and Foxwood Community Centre testing sites.

In-person tests are available at St William's College in the city centre.

Sharon Stoltz, director of public health at City of York Council, said: “Infection rates in York remain low currently but we can’t afford to be complacent. I would like to thank everyone in the city for their continued efforts. It is through this vigilance practicing Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air, getting tested regularly and getting the vaccine when called that we can continue to reopen our city and protect our recovery from the pandemic.”

“In recent months we have been putting a lot of work into encouraging people to get tested, including opening up new testing sites across the city, with lots of tests being carried out every week.

“We are continuing to take a preventative approach. 1 in 3 cases of Coronavirus has no symptoms. As we are able to see more of our friends and family we want to give our city the best possible chance of keeping cases down by encouraging more people to get tested."

Council leader Keith Aspden added: “We have seen the rate of Covid cases rising in other areas of the country, so we are keen to take proactive and preventative action to keep cases low in York by trying new ways to encourage more residents to get tested.

“We are hugely grateful to the many York residents who are continuing to do their part and get tested regularly. We are urging more residents to join the city-wide effort and get tested regularly to protect each other and our city. Regular testing, as well as practicing Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air continue to be the best ways we can protect the progress our city has made in recent months.

“We know first-hand how quickly this virus can spread, so the more testing we do to identify cases the more people we can protect. If cases continue to remain low the better our chances of moving to the next step of the lockdown easing roadmap.”