EVERY adult across St Helens will be able to access free, symptom-free (rapid lateral flow) tests for themselves and their families to use twice a week, subject to availability, say local health leaders.

In what public health bosses believe is "a significant step forward, which paves the way for businesses and society reopening", people will be able to visit specific testing sites or collect kits to be used at home.

Why is symptom-free testing seen as important

One in three people with Covid-19 do not experience any symptoms and may be spreading the virus unknowingly.

Regular symptom-free testing is an essential part of the easing of restrictions as it can detect cases quickly, meaning people with coronavirus can isolate immediately and stop the spread of the virus in the community.

How twice weekly symptom-free Covid-19 tests can now be accessed in St Helens:

• Attending a symptom-free testing site for a supervised test.

• Collecting an at-home Covid-19 testing kit from any of community testing sites.

• Contacting your employer to see if they are taking part in workplace testing.

• Secondary schools and colleges will continue to provide students and staff with twice-weekly Covid-19 tests until further notice.

From Friday, April 9 people who cannot access tests through other routes, can order a symptom-free test kit online or by calling 119.

Pharmacy Collect

A new ‘Pharmacy Collect’ service is also launching which will provide an additional route to regular testing, people can enter their postcode on the GOV.UK website to find their nearest participating pharmacy.

People aged over 18 without coronavirus symptoms can collect a box of seven rapid tests to use twice a week at home. Do not visit a collection point outside opening hours, as it may be used to test people with coronavirus symptoms outside these times.

If testing at home, individuals will need to register their results online or by calling 119. They should self-isolate if positive and order a symptom (PCR) test.

Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 should book a test online or by calling 119.

What health bosses have to say

Sue Forster, director of public health for St Helens Borough Council, said: “Getting into the habit of twice-weekly symptom-free testing as part of our everyday lives will help us all to play our part and do what we can to keep each other safe, and alongside the vaccine ensure we can continue to ease our way out of lockdown.

“Testing is vital to helping us find Covid-19 cases that we wouldn’t otherwise know about, helping to break chains of transmission.

"I encourage everyone to take up the offer of these free rapid tests – they are quick and easy to carry out.

“Even if you’ve been vaccinated it’s important to remember that you can still spread the virus, so do continue to wash your hands, cover your face, make space, and get tested regularly to keep others safe.”

The community infection rate for Covid-19 continues to fall in St Helens, with 54 cases recorded in the latest weekly figures.

Meanwhile, more than 100,000 people in the borough have now had their first does of the vaccine.

For more information about symptom-free testing, testing site locations, and opening times, visit sthelens.gov.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-testing/symptom-free-testing/