Covid: Community testing to be rolled out in Bracknell this month

The asymptomatic testing will be rolled out by Bracknell Forest Council by the end of the month.

People will be invited to start testing twice a week to avoid spreading coronavirus without knowing it.

It will be targeted at critical and key workers who are not already being offered testing, and anyone who is required to leave home for work or crucial activity.

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The council said around one in three people who have coronavirus are without symptoms and can be spreading the virus without realising it.

Community testing will help find those who are infected and infectious and can help break the chain of transmission.

The tests that will be used are Lateral Flow Tests (LFT) which delivers the results within around 30 minutes. If residents test positive it is imperative that you and close contacts isolate at home immediately.

You must not go to work, school, or public areas, or use public transport or taxis.

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Bracknell Forest Council leader Paul Bettison said: “We are in the process of arranging the people and equipment to be able to offer these lateral flow tests as soon as possible.

"Our number one priority is to keep you as safe and well as possible and bring down our case rates. Please bear with us while we finalise our quality and safety checks before inviting people forward for testing.

“If you are invited to take part in the community testing, please do come forward and get your twice weekly tests.

"By regularly testing those who are at greatest risk of having and spreading the virus without knowing it, we are reducing the risk of transmission and helping to safeguard our loved ones and borough from the virus."

The council is currently working to identify those who will be invited for the regular testing which will start at the end of January.