Symptom-free coronavirus testing to roll out in Surrey
Targeted community testing initiative to launch to drive down transmission rates
Last updated 12th Feb 2021
People without symptoms of coronavirus will soon be able to get tested in Surrey.
The Targeted Community Testing initiative will initially launch in Woking, Spelthorne and Epsom and Ewell and a number of community pharmacies (Cranleigh, Stoneleigh and Caterham).
Around one in three people who are infected with Covid-19 have no symptoms, so could be spreading the disease without knowing it.
Testing will be available for asymptomatic individuals who are not able to work from home starting from Monday (15 February).
The first three pilot sites, as well as three pilot community pharmacies, will receive the lateral flow tests, provided by NHS Test and Trace.
Rapid-turnaround lateral flow tests provide results within an hour, and will be used to proactively test those without symptoms.
Lateral flow devices do not require a laboratory to process the test.
Testing will be available for asymptomatic individuals who are not able to work from home during national restrictions from:
15th February in Staines
15th February, in three pilot pharmacies (Cranleigh, Stoneleigh and Caterham) with more to follow
16th February in Ewell
18th February in Woking
For more information on how to get a test click here.
The pilot testing centres are open Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm and can be booked online.
Community pharmacies will be offering tests during their normal opening hours.
Ruth Hutchinson, Surrey’s Director of Public Health said:
“Symptom-free testing for people who are still going into their workplace during national restrictions is one of the most effective ways of ensuring our infection rate continues to drop in Surrey.
“Targeted Community Testing will help us to break the chain of transmission by identifying people who have no symptoms of Covid-19, and would otherwise be out and about in the community, potentially spreading the virus further.
“Thank you to everyone in Surrey for your tremendous efforts over the past year to keep this virus at bay. Let’s keep doing everything we can to get our rates down and keep Surrey safe.”