COVID-19 - Walsall News Updates

The local, West Midlands Combined Authority Mayoral (WMCA) and Police and Crime Commissioner elections that were due to take place in May 2020 will now go ahead on Thursday May 6 2021.

This election is an opportunity for Walsall residents to elect their ward councillor, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (WMPCC) and West Midlands Combined Authority Mayor (WMCA).

Details about candidates for all elections will be on the ballot papers and the candidates’ Statements of Nomination are now available on Walsall Council’s Elections 2021 web pages.

High streets across the borough are preparing to welcome back shoppers as the country moves into the next stage of the roadmap to recovery.

Walsall Council is pleased to announce that its leisure facilities will be re-opening from Monday 12 April.  Following confirmation from government that Step 2 of its roadmap out of lockdown is set to go ahead, staff at Bloxwich and Oak Park Active Living Centres, Darlaston Swimming Pool, and Walsall Gala Swimming & Fitness Centre have been working hard throughout lockdown to make our facilities ready for you.  Everything is in line with the current government and industry guidance to make sure our centres are safe for everyone to enjoy.

Walsall Libraries will reopen from Monday 12 April as England moves into step two of the national government roadmap out of lockdown. During the lockdown library resources have been used to support community activity across a range of activities including befriending, supporting vaccinations and delivering books to vulnerable residents.  As we come out of lockdown there will be some initial changes to provision to ensure that premises are kept COVID secure and to continue some of our community activity.

Everyone in Walsall will be able to access free, regular, symptom free coronavirus testing from this Friday, 09 April.  Testing for Walsall residents without symptoms using lateral flow devices has been available in the borough for several months, but the offer has been limited to those leaving home to work and schoolchildren and their families.

The offer is now being extended to everyone as part of a new national scheme announced by the Government . People without symptoms will be able to get collect testing kits in order to test twice weekly in a number of ways: