COVID testing offered to everyone in the country

Published: 8 April 2021

From today (9 April), everyone will be able to access free, regular, rapid coronavirus testing.

The Government has announced the step as we begin to further to reduce COVID-19 lockdown measures, including easing of hospitality and non-essential shop restrictions from Monday.

So far, regular testing has been available to those most at risk of transmission including those who need to leave home for work or education, including frontline NHS workers, care home staff and residents, and schoolchildren and their families. Under the new programme, all people will be able to access regular testing in a bid to prevent outbreaks and detect COVID-19 cases early.

Those who are unable to work from home are strongly recommended to be tested regularly. This is particularly important as many people (around one in three) with COVID-19 symptoms will not experience any symptoms at all, which could cause them to spread the virus to others unwittingly. Making use of lateral flow tests regularly could help to prevent the spread from asymptomatic individuals, keeping ourselves and others safer.

Lateral flow tests will be available for home delivery and collection from local testing sites in Derby. Further information on how to access regular lateral flow testing can be viewed on the Council's COVID-19 tests for people without symptoms pages.

If testing at home, individuals will need to register their results online or by calling 119. If they test positive, they should self-isolate and book a PCR test to confirm.

Dr Robyn Dewis, Director of Public Health, Derby City Council, said:

Access to COVID-19 testing is a key building block in helping to prevent the spread of the virus along with keeping our distance, washing our hands, wearing a face covering, self-isolating and applying for a test if we have symptoms, and contact tracing for those who test positive.

We would encourage citizens in Derby to make use of the regular testing available in order to detect cases quickly and prevent potential outbreaks.

This is even more important if you are unable to work from home and are coming into contact with people outside your household. If this applies, you should be taking lateral flow tests on a regular basis to reduce the possibility of transmission.

It is essential that if you test positive for COVID-19 that you immediately self-isolate, along with your household, whether or not you have symptoms. This will ensure that we can begin our path out of lockdown more safely and hopefully prevent the need for further restrictions.

Symptomatic tests (PCR) are currently available to all citizens of Derby who have one or more of the main COVID symptoms: a new, continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss / change of sense of smell or taste.

PCR tests are bookable online or by calling 119. There are local testing sites at Morleston Street Day Centre, Austin Sunnyhill Children’s Centre, Sussex Circus and West End Community Centre for those who do not have access to a car – all of which are open seven days a week.

Health