Please see below a message published on behalf of St.Helens Council.
Fans gearing up for their return to The Totally Wicked Stadium are being urged to add a symptom free test to their pre and post-match routines. Symptom free testing helps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as some people with the virus don’t get symptoms but can still spread it to others.
St.Helens R.F.C. are set to welcome 4,000 fans to the ground for the first time this season on Monday 17th May for their Super League clash against Salford Red Devils.
Members who have been given a space in the ballot for the match are being urged to take a symptom free test within 36 hours of attending to help reduce the risk of any potential spread of COVID-19. In addition to this fans will also be asked to take a test two days and five days after attending the match, to ensure that they we identify cases of covid-19 early to prevent further spread, Contact details will also be available to NHS Test and Trace to ensure everyone can be traced in the event of a positive test.
Anyone self-isolating for whatever reason, should not attend the match, this includes;
- If you or anyone in your household has recently returned from any country on the red or amber travel list in the last 10 days
- If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
- Someone in your household has symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19
- If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19
- If you’ve been told you’ve been in contact with someone who tested positive by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app
Prior to the match, all spectators, staff and visitors are requested to take a COVID-19 test, kits can be ordered online or over the phone, or you can get help to take the test at one of our community testing centres.
Two COVID-19 testing kits will be given out to all fans at the end of the game on Monday, for testing to be completed at home on Wednesday 19 May (two days) and Saturday 22 May (five days) after match day.
Councillor Anthony Burns, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Culture and Heritage, said: “For the last year fans have had to cheer the team on from their sofas and we know that many people live for match days at The Totally Wicked Stadium. So it is fantastic that finally some fans will be able to watch the team defend their Super League title again as they bid for a third successive cup win and hopefully continue their Challenge Cup run to reach Wembley this year.
“We are fortunate that thanks to people following the rules and getting vaccinated when eligible our Covid-19 rates are now low, and we want to keep them that way. Regular symptom free testing using Lateral Flow tests are one of the ways we can keep on top of our rates as they help to detect cases among people without symptoms or before they develop.
We recommend that everyone should take a regular test just to make sure you’re not potentially spreading the virus unknowingly. Even if you’ve never taken a symptom free test before we would encourage anyone attending any Saints matches to take a test the day before the game, and again two and five days after the match, to ensure you continue to be symptom free.”
You can get a test at our symptom free testing centres with no need to book at St Mary’s Market and Chester Lane Community Centre Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6pm and 10am to 3pm at weekends. You can also collect test at home kits at these centres, our mobile testing van which is out and about at weekends, at a local pharmacy or order one online at www.gov.uk/coronavirus subject to availability.
To find out more about symptom free tests visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/letsgettested
