Mansfield is to launch a new Covid-19 community testing initiative in a bid to find people who are infected with coronavirus but have no symptoms – and so help to drive down transmission in the area.

The town currently has the highest number of new cases in Nottinghamshire, just over 600 people per 100,000 testing positive in the past week.

Mansfield has received lateral flow tests as part of the new pilot to enable local public health leaders to start the testing in targeted areas – Ladybrook, Oak Tree and Bellamy wards, because they say these areas have a high proportion of people of working age who are unable to work from home.

Testing will begin next week at Oak Tree Leisure Centre and Mansfield Town Football Club.

The community testing is aimed at working age people, aged 18-65. As well as the priority areas – Ladybrook, Oak Tree and Bellamy – higher risk workers from across the district and those in close contact with the public will also be asked to take part, including those who work in retail, manufacturing, food production, transport, public sector and front line services.

No appointments are needed. The opening hours are:

Oak Tree Leisure Centre: From 26 January – Tuesdays to Saturdays from 7am to 3pm, for people from Oak Tree and Bellamy wards.

One Call Stadium: From 28 January – Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to 7pm and Sundays from 10am to 2pm, for people from Ladybrook and the town centre.

There is free parking at both sites. Mansfield District Council and the Department of Health and Social Care urged people to avoid using public transport in case they later test positive. For more information about testing, visit www.mansfield.gov.uk/coronavirus/communitytesting.

The council said: “Around one in three people who are infected with Covid-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it. Broadening testing to identify those showing no symptoms will mean finding positive cases more quickly, and break chains of transmission.

“With its targeted approach, community testing aims to reduce the prevalence of the virus in the highest risk areas.”

The tests are aimed at finding asymptomatic people. Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should book a test, via nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119, at the existing testing service at Mansfield Civic Centre.

The Mayor of Mansfield, Andy Abrahams, said: “The council is keen to do everything it can to facilitate efforts to drive down infection rates. By working with our partners to bring community testing to Mansfield we can help our residents to protect themselves and their loved ones and lower the rate of infection.

“Community testing doesn’t work on its own so it’s vital that we all keep following the national lockdown restrictions in addition to the Hands, Face, Space guidance.

“I would urge everyone who has the opportunity to get a rapid test to take it and keep showing the amazing community spirit we have seen in Mansfield throughout the pandemic.”

Jonathan Gribbin, director of public health for Nottinghamshire, added: “We know that around one in three people have the virus but do not have any symptoms, so they could be spreading the disease without knowing. Community testing is designed to identify those who have no symptoms but are positive, particularly people who are in jobs that don’t allow them to work from home.

“Testing will enable us to ensure that the necessary advice and support can be put in place so we can to break the chain of transmission.

“Whilst this testing is an additional tool we can use to help drive transmission down, it is still vitally important that everyone in our communities continue to stay at home unless it’s essential to leave the house, and to practice Hands – Face – Space rules whenever they do.”