PEOPLE who cannot work from home are being urged to book Covid-19 tests as a new symptom-free testing service is rolled out.

The pan-Sussex Community Testing Programme launches this week at test centres and participating pharmacies across the county.

The service offers free, rapid lateral flow tests to anyone who is not showing signs of Covid-19 and who cannot work from home, and cannot access testing through other means.

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Those who need to leave home to volunteer or provide care to others are also advised to book a test. Anyone who needs to leave home for work or to care for others who has been vaccinated is urged to book tests, as it is still possible to carry the virus.

Tests can be booked at one of 25 community pharmacies across Sussex, or either of the dedicated testing sites at Moulsecoomb Leisure Centre in Brighton and at Hove Town Hall.

More pharmacies will be offering the service across Sussex in the coming weeks.

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It is recommended people take two tests a week, three days apart, to help identify as many people as possible who have Covid-19 but are not showing symptoms, to reduce the spread of the virus.

Alistair Hill, director of public health at Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Thank you as always for all your personal efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19.

“Alongside vaccinations and the hands, face, space guidance, symptom-free testing is an important step towards to beating this virus.

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“If everyone who needs to leave home to work or help others takes regular symptom-free tests, we can more quickly identify who has the virus and take immediate action to stop the spread.

“Working with our partners to offer the programme across the whole of Sussex will make testing more convenient for residents.

"You should be able to find somewhere that’s close to either where you live or work so that you can do it on your way."

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Pharmacies will be offering tests during their normal opening hours and the testing centres will be offering tests Monday to Saturday.

The testing process takes around 10 minutes and booking in advance means people should not have to wait, the council said.

At both pharmacies and testing centres, people carry out their own swab test and it will be processed by staff on site, and a result will then be sent within 30 minutes.

Anyone who receives a positive test must self-isolate immediately and will be given advice by NHS Test and Trace. Those who receive a negative test should continue follow the current guidelines for social distancing.

The testing programme is a partnership between local authorities in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex.

To make an appointment, visit the booking website at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/communitytesting or call 01243 642130.