Covid-19: people without symptoms urged to start taking regular tests in Brighton

As lockdown restrictions are eased, Brighton and Hove City Council is asking everyone to get tested regularly, as one in three people who have Covid-19 show no symptoms.

Previously, the test kits were made available for those who cannot work from home - but now all residents are encouraged to start taking tests.

Director of public health Alistair Hill said it is important "not to drop our guard" as the city emerges from lockdown.

He said: “Last week we saw a 50 per cent decrease in new Covid cases on the previous week.

"This is great news but we must not drop our guard. The number of confirmed cases reported are only those that we know about.

Test kits can be collected from Hove Town Hall

"Because some people with Covid-19 do not get any symptoms, more people in the city will have the virus than these figures show.

"As the city opens up and we’re mixing with more people it’s important to make sure we’re not spreading the virus without realising it.

“If everyone takes twice-weekly symptom-free tests we can find the positive cases and self-isolate to avoid passing the virus on.

"This will help to keep the numbers of cases low and stop outbreaks, so we can get back to seeing the people we love and doing the things we enjoy."

Test packs to do at home are available for collection from the Jubilee Library on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 10am and 5pm, and on Sundays between 11am and 5pm.

The kits can also be collected from Hove Town Hall, Monday to Saturday between 8am and 5pm, and until 8pm on Wednesdays.

People can use NHS England's site finder website to find their closest participating pharmacy offering free lateral flow tests.

There is no need to book to collect a test kit - but only people over 18 should use the Community and Pharmacy Collect service.

Each box contains seven tests and people can collect two boxes at a time.

Test boxes can be collected on behalf of other family members aged over 18, and by carers.

All test kits include instructions for how to take the test, recording results and what to do in the case of a positive test result.

NHS Test and Trace sites in the city are operating as symptomatic testing sites in the morning but are currently also providing a collection service in the afternoons for people to pick up test kits to do at home.

People are advised to use the NHS England's site finder website to check where their closest Test and Trace site is and opening hours.

Those who cannot access any of these services can order test kits online or by calling 119, which will be delivered to their home.

For anyone who does not feel confident taking their own test at home, community testing is available and can be booked in advance at participating community pharmacies across Sussex or at the dedicated testing centre at Hove Town Hall.

These tests are taken under supervision of a member of staff who will then process results on site within 30 minutes.

To book a community test, brighton-hove.gov.uk/communitytesting.

Anyone who gets a positive result from a lateral flow test must self-isolate immediately with their household and take a follow-up PCR test within two days.

Home testing and community testing is only for those without symptoms of the virus. Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 should not collect a test kit or book a symptom-free test and must book a PCR test online or by calling 119.

Alistair Hill added: “Even if you’ve had your vaccine, please self-isolate following a positive result, keep social contacts within the rules and get your vaccination as soon as you’re invited.

"And if you have any symptoms of Covid please immediately self-isolate and get a PCR test.

“We’ve come this far by supporting and caring for each other.

"Let’s keep going while the vaccination programme rolls-out. Then we can stay on track to enjoy the next step out of lockdown when restrictions ease again in May.”