Rapid Covid testing now available to everyone in Northumberland

Residents without symptoms of Covid 19 will be able to access rapid lateral flow tests (LFDs) for themselves and their families to use at home twice a week, in line with government guidance.

By making rapid tests available to everyone, more cases will be detected, breaking chains of transmission and saving lives.

LFDs are easy to use and can give results in 30 minutes, so those who test positive can self-isolate immediately and avoid passing the virus on to others.

Liz Morgan, director of Public Health at Northumberland County Council said: “Taking a rapid test is quick and convenient, at home or in one of our symptom free test centres.

“Testing is an important tool in bringing the virus under control and help us get back to normality. We would urge everyone to access the testing to help protect each other.”

This expanded national testing offer for people without symptoms will be delivered through:- A home ordering service, which allows people to order lateral flow tests online to be delivered to their home- Workplace testing programmes, done on-site or kits provided to do at home- In-person testing at a Northumberland County Council community testing site- Collection of home testing kits at a Northumberland County Council collection point- Collection at a local PCR test site during specific test collection time windows https://find-covid-19-rapid-test-sites.maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/- Testing on-site at schools and collegesFrom Monday, April 12, collection sites will be operating from the Symptom Free Test Centres at:- Ashington Leisure Centre, - Willowburn Leisure Centre, Alnwick- Wentworth Leisure Centre, HexhamOpening hours will be:Monday - 9am – 7pmTuesday - 9am – 4pmWednesday - CLOSEDThursday - 9am – 7pmFriday - 9am-12:15pmAlternatively, to book a symptom free test at one of the sites please go to nland.uk/SymptomFreeTest

Collection sites for home test kits will also opening in Blyth and Berwick in the coming days.

If testing at home, individuals will need to register their results online or by calling 119. They should self-isolate if they test positive and arrange to have a follow up PCR test within two days of their result.

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