Asymptomatic community Covid-19 testing introduced in West Sussex
It's being offered to those with caring responsibilities or who have to leave home for work
Adults in West Sussex who have to leave home for work or caring responsibilities can now book a symptom-free Covid-19 test.
More local testing is being rolled out by a pan-Sussex programme, to help identify as many people as possible who have Covid-19, but not the symptoms.
The partnership between councils in West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove, offers free, rapid lateral flow tests to anyone who isn’t showing signs of Covid-19, who can’t work from home and who can’t access testing via other means.
Anyone over the age of 18 can book a test at a participating pharmacy anywhere in Sussex, or at one of two dedicated testing sites, one at the Moulsecoomb Leisure Centre in Brighton and one at Hove Town Hall.
The latest Public Health England data showed that 321 people in West Sussex had tested positive for Covid-19 in the latest seven-day period, a drop of more than 40% of the rate from the week before.
West Sussex county councillor and chair of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board, Amanda Jupp, said:
“It is encouraging to see the rate of infection fall across West Sussex, but it is still the case that a third of people with Covid-19 may be passing it on without knowing it.
“The ability to test people who need to leave home for work, but who don’t have symptoms, is another important step that will help us return to normal life as soon as possible.
“I’d like to thank our partners in East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council for working with us on launching the pan-Sussex Community Testing Programme, and to the pharmacies who are on board supporting the rollout.”
Dr Tony Hill, Interim Director of Public Health at West Sussex County Council, said:
“We know that around one in three people with Covid-19 don’t have any symptoms, so you could be passing the virus on even if you’re feeling fine.
“Symptom-free testing is an additional tool in the fight against the pandemic and keeping West Sussex safe.
"It will help us to identify more people who have the virus and encourage them and their contacts to self-isolate in order to further protect our friends, families, colleagues and communities.
"This form of testing is especially important if you have to leave home for work, and you’re unable to access testing by other means.”
More pharmacies will be available across Sussex in the coming weeks.
People across West Sussex are urged to continue to ‘act like you have the it’ as the best way to avoid spreading coronavirus, keep West Sussex safe and help us come out of lockdown.
Further details on how to book can be found online or by calling 01243 642130.