Student Update: Walsall and Covid-19 South African variant

Please be aware that this information was shared with students by email and correct at the time of sending. For the latest Covid-19 guidance, please visit our coronavirus webpages: www.wlv.ac.uk/coronavirus. If you are a student who has a query or needs support, please log a helpcall with ASK@WLV in e:Vision (www.wlv.ac.uk/evision).

You will have seen the news over the last couple of days about the South African variant of Covid-19 being found in Walsall.

Walsall Council has released the below information regarding this:

• You can check to see if you are in the targeted testing area for the Covid-19 South African variant using the Walsall postcode checker.

• If you are in a targeted testing area, you do not need to take any action now ― all households in the targeted testing area will be directly contacted at their doorstep and will be provided with a home testing kit from a public health or licensed officer. 

• If you are an essential worker, or you need to go out for essential shopping or appointments, you can carry on as normal, whilst observing the national lockdown guidelines and Hands, Face, Space precautions at all times.

• If you are outside your home for essential reasons and you would prefer to visit a testing site, these are located at Walsall College (Wisemore Campus) and Walsall Forest Arts Centre.

• If you do not need to leave your home for essential reasons, you should continue to stay home in line with national lockdown guidance.

• If you are not in the targeted testing area, you must also please continue to follow national lockdown rules and Hands, Face, Space safety precautions at all times.

• The postcode checker is for Walsall residents only, and will not provide Covid-19 testing guidance or advice for residents of other council areas. If you live outside of the Walsall Council area, please see your local council website for advice.