Harborough residents urged to take home tests to help stop the rises in Covid cases

The battle to combat the spread of Covid-19 across Leicestershire is being stepped up by the county council after a steep rise in cases.

There are now over 50 new sites across the county – including in Market Harborough and Lutterworth - where rapid home test kits are available.

You can find out exactly where you can get them here: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/covidhometestThere are also about 140 pharmacies in Leicestershire offering the rapid home test kits.

Visit https://maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk to discover where kits are available, including testing sites.

Mike Sandys, the county council’s director of public health, said: “We want to ensure there is an additional layer of support in place to encourage people to get tested.

“We’re offering rapid home test kits and making them readily available in numerous places across the county.

“We know this type of testing can help identify people who are infected, but who don’t have symptoms.”

He added: “We need to do all we can to help prevent the spread of the virus as we see that concerning pattern of cases going up.

“It’s vital that people stay vigilant.

“To protect yourself and others, keep two metres apart, wear a mask to help to reduce the spread of the virus and regularly wash your hands.”

People with symptoms are also being reminded to get tested.

They must book an appointment by calling 119 or at http://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-testCovid rapid lateral flow home test kits are available to all in Leicestershire who don't have symptoms, have not tested positive within the past 90 days and have not been in contact with a positive case in the last 10 days.

You can collect a home testing kit from a community testing centre where staff can also advise on having a rapid test - and can also give information on how to use the kits.

You can pick up a kit at Harborough Leisure Centre (Bowls Hall) on Northampton Road, Market Harborough.

Rapid test kits are also available from county libraries during their usual opening hours – with some exceptions.

Visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/covidhometest to find out more.

You can also get your hands on a rapid test kit at Lutterworth Sports Centre on Coventry Road, Lutterworth.

You can also order test kits to be delivered to your home at https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests