Brighton health chief says home Covid tests will help to keep schools open

Brighton and Hove health chiefs are calling on parents, carers and secondary age pupils to take symptom-free Covid tests at home

The city’s director of public health has said parents and carers can help to limit the number of Covid cases and keep schools and nurseries open by using rapid Lateral Flow Device (LFD) kits to test themselves twice-weekly at home.

These kits are for people who are symptom-free and can stop the virus being unknowingly passed to others.

All of Brighton and Hove’s secondary and college-age children have also been asked to take the twice-weekly tests which are supplied free from their school.

But pre-school, nursery and primary school children should not use the LFD tests.

Alistair Hill, director of public health, said: “It’s really important that parents and carers use the twice weekly LFD tests themselves as well as continuing to support their secondary and college-age children to use them.

“The devices are quick and convenient to use and can help save lives.

“Regular testing of symptom free people helps stop the virus spreading, keeping us all safer.

“The LFD tests don’t identify everybody who is infected with Covid-19, so it is still very important that people continue to follow the guidelines and think hands-face-space, to protect themselves and others.

“Regularly testing at home is a crucial part of our journey out of lockdown.”

The LFD testing kits for parents and carers and childcare and support bubbles can be collected from three sites: East Brighton Tennis Courts, Brighton BN25UA, Preston Park Brighton BN16SD, Disused School Site - junction of Mile Oak Road and High Street - Portslade BN41 2PG,

There is no need to book an appointment and the test kits are available from the sites between 1pm-8pm, Mon-Sun.

For more details: https://find-covid-19-rapid-test-sites.maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/

These tests should only be used when there are no symptoms of COVID-19.

If you or anyone in your household, no matter what age, has any Covid-19 symptoms please do not take an LFD test.

People with symptoms need to take a PCR test instead. Everyone in the household will also need to self-isolate.

You can arrange a PCR test at www.gov.uk/get-a-coronavirus-test.