RAPID testing has been hailed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as one way Brits will be able to resume “normal life” as Covid-19 restrictions start to ease up.
From Friday Brits will be able to receive two rapid tests a week – but how can you get your hands on them?
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At present, you are advised to get a coronavirus test if you have any of the three main symptoms defined by the NHS.
These are a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of taste and smell (anosmia).
If you have any of these symptoms you should get a test and isolate in order to stop the spread of the virus.
You are also urged to get a test if you have to leave your home for work and work in a profession which means you could be exposed to infections.
People who work in places such as care home and nurseries across the country have already been getting two tests a week in order to make sure they aren’t bringing infections into the work place.
Testing is also already available in areas where surge testing has been deployed where variants such as the South African and Brazilian variant have been detected.
Under Mr Johnson’s new testing blitz everyone in England, including those without symptoms, will be able to take a free rapid Covid test twice a week.
Rapid lateral flow tests detect cases quickly, meaning that people can isolate faster.
WHERE TO GET A TEST
People will be able to collect or order batches of their free Covid tests whether they have symptoms or not.
The public will be able to order kits at home, get them through their workplaces, at schools, or via the network of testing centres which have been set up across the country.
A pharmacy collect service will also be launched. The kits will be available from Friday onwards with a fresh marketing campaign urging people to take part.
People aged over 18 without symptoms will be able to visit a participating local pharmacy and collect a box of 7 rapid tests to use twice a week at home.
Mr Johnson promised the kits would “stop outbreaks in their tracks, so we can get back to seeing the people we love and doing the things we enjoy”.
He said that this, along with the vaccine programme being rolled out across the country – would help normality resume.
He added: “As we continue to make good progress on our vaccine programme and with our roadmap to cautiously easing restrictions underway, regular rapid testing is even more important to make sure those efforts are not wasted.
“That’s why we’re now rolling out free rapid tests to everyone across England – helping us to stop outbreaks in their tracks.”
You can order a free home test kit from the NHS website.
There are a number of testing sites across the UK which you can book.
You can also get tested in a NHS hospital, at a regional test centre in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, satellite centres, or at mobile testing units.
For more information about those sites, visit the government website.
The government advises to get a test done in the first five days of having symptoms.
So far in England over 100,000 businesses have registered their interest to provide rapid tests to their employees.
This has also been extended to companies with over ten workers where on-site testing is impossible.
