News

Rapid COVID testing now available for anyone in Manchester who cannot work from home

Rapid COVID-19 testing is available anyone in Manchester who can’t work from home and whose employers or organisations don’t have an asymptomatic testing system in place.

The Manc The Manc - 3rd March 2021
Rapid testing is now more widely available for Manchester citizens / Image: Gov UK

Rapid COVID-19 testing is now available for anyone in Manchester who cannot work from home – regardless of whether they have symptoms or not.

Manchester City Council has confirmed that people who live or work in the city – and do not have access to testing in their workplace – can book a COVID-19 test at one of six local sites.

Testing involves lateral flow devices which take a swab of the nose and throat – providing results in as little as 30 minutes.

All tests need to be booked in advance at one of the following locations:

  • Moss Side Leisure Centre
  • Debdale Outdoor Centre
  • FC United of Manchester
  • Hall Lane Resource Centre
  • Heathfield Resource Centre
  • Rates Hall in Manchester Town Hall

Slots will be available on weekdays and Saturdays at various times.

Anyone who records a positive test result must self-isolate immediately – with the data logged by NHS Test and Trace.

The local rapid testing scheme is open to smaller businesses, freelancers and sole traders across Manchester. Larger firms (with at least 50 employees) are being encouraged to sign up for the national Government scheme by March 31, which enables companies to perform their own testing.

Councillor Bev Craig, Executive Member for Adult Health and Wellbeing at Manchester City Council, said: “We are committed to making our city as safe as possible and that includes every measure to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“We estimate that around 1 in 3 people can have the virus without knowing it, which makes it imperative that we are vigilant in helping to protect those who cannot work from home, and also the people they work with.”

Tests need to booked in advance by ringing 0161 947 0770 or 0800 092 4020. The booking number is open Monday-Friday.

More information is available on the Manchester City Council website.

News

Hotspur Press to be part-demolished following catastrophic fire

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Hotspur Press to be part-demolished following catastrophic fire

Manchester’s historic Hotspur Press will be partially demolished following the fire that tore through the building earlier this week.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said that part of the centuries-old mill would need to be pulled down to enable safe firefighting.

The Hotspur Press building stands just off Whitworth Street West behind Oxford Road train station, and previously operated as a printing press.

It later became a home for artist studios and creative spaces until officially becoming derelict in the late 2010s.

Despite standing empty, the magnificent old mill has been an iconic and oft-photographed landmark in Manchester, and one of only a handful left in the city centre.

But that huge fire on Monday evening has gutted the Hotspur Press, and now it will be ‘partially’ demolished.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Firefighters continue to work hard to bring the fire at Hotspur Press to a safe conclusion. Alongside Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Police and partners, a decision has now been made to partially demolish the Hotspur Press building over the coming days.

“This is to enable safe firefighting and excavation in areas that are currently inaccessible, mitigating any risk to life. This will also allow safe internal investigations to begin.”

Plans have been in place to turn The Hotspur Press into a student accommodation tower block, which had included a 35-storey student tower built out of the original mill facade.

The Manc has contacted property developers Manner, who own the Hotspur Press site, to see what will happen to the space following the blaze.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

News

Review | Dua Lipa had Anfield levitating on her first night in Liverpool

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

British-Albanian performer and prolific pop star Dua Lipa is halfway through her first-ever international stadium tour, and it’s nothing shy of a spectacle – night one in Liverpool living, breathing, levitating proof.

To say I wasn’t singing more than half of this setlist verbatim would be a lie; the setlist for Lipa’s Radical Optimism tour is stacked with hits upon mega hits.

Her commanding single ‘Training Season’ kicks things off and besides getting the whole stadium hyped up, it sets the tone for the night ahead, one Dua has full control of, and also features a firework or two.

Within 15 minutes of stepping onto the stage, the unofficial anthem of Anfield’s resident football club and recently re-crowned Premier League champions, Liverpool FC, was played.

Dua Lipa performing 'Physical' at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool.
Dua Lipa performing ‘Physical’ at Anfield Stadium.
Smiles all round at the 'Radical Optimism' tour in Liverpool.
Smiles all round at the ‘Radical Optimism’ tour in Liverpool.
Credit: Audio North

In fact, ‘One Kiss’ was met with an unmatched electric energy that she ended up playing it again later on, because why the hell not? 

This isn’t just a song: it’s a beast. When you’re playing a song that’s spent eight weeks at No.1, has 2.5 billion streams and at an arena with a legacy like Anfield‘s, there was simply no way these fans were going to be tame. 

Similarly, partway through the second act, Lipa had the audience wrapped around her fingers once more as she played the dance-inducing smash ‘Levitating’. In that moment, we were all her “sugarboos.”

Already seven songs in, Lipa managed to cram another one in with a helping hand from local legend and The Zutons frontman, Dave McCabe, who joined the star to duet another classic, ‘Valerie’.

This was a proper crowd-pleasing moment. To be honest, they all were.

As we strut our stuff into the third act, we’re met with another dancefloor filler, ‘Physical’, fans were ready and waiting to chant “let’s get physical” with the superstar. 

The fourth act, on the other hand, was much more relaxed. Ms. Lipa took some time to show her love to some of the album’s deeper cuts; I greatly appreciated being able to belt out “How looong?” as she played ‘Falling Forever.’

She finished this segment with the song that started it all, one she’s never forgotten to play since bursting onto the music scene back in 2015: ‘Be The One.’

Dua Lipa and Dave McCabe (The Zutons) performing 'Valerie'.
Dua Lipa and Dave McCabe (The Zutons) performing ‘Valerie’.
The superstar taking pictures with fans at Anfield Stadium.
The superstar taking pictures with fans at Anfield.
Liverpool is in for a treat if the second Dua Lipa show is even half as good as night one at Anfield.

Dua, let us tell you something, you’ll always be the one.

The encore felt like the epitome of all things Dua Lipa. It’s like when you hear that one ABBA megamix that has you shouting, “Oh, I know this one… and I know this one too!”

And rightly so, with a back-to-back, four-song medley spanning from ‘New Rules’ and ‘Dance the Night’, to ‘Don’t Start Now’ and ‘Houdini’. Perfect, perfect, perfect.

Special mention to ‘New Rules’, which was unexpectedly mixed with Bicep’s breadwinning hit ‘Glue’ – just like we saw at last year’s Glastonbury Festival – resulting in a crossover us losing our minds.

After this medley, night one of the ‘Radical Optimism’ tour was over, but we and the fans were certainly left feeling radically optimistic.

Come on, how can you not be when the timeless classic ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ by Whitney Houston is soundtracking your concert exit?

I have one last question for anyone who hasn’t splashed the cash for one of her shows yet… if you’re not watching Dua Lipa live, then ‘Whatcha Doing’?

Lipa had the crowd well and truly in her fingertips.
Lipa had the crowd well and truly in her fingertips.
Dua gave quite the performance at Anfield Stadium.
Dua gave quite the performance in Merseyside.
An increasing master of not just pop songs but stagecraft too. (Credit: Audio North)

Read more:

Meanwhile, back here in Manchester, another global pop music sensation is heading to Co-op Live for her second night.

Who’s ready?

Tate McRae at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for ‘Miss Possessive’ tour
Dua Lipa has done Anfield and Tate McRae is doing Co-op Live – AGAIN.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – The Manc Group

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