Parents in North & East Cornwall urged to collect rapid-result Covid tests
New pick-up points are available in Bude and Launceston from this week, for those with children at nursery, school or college
Parents in north and east Cornwall are being urged to collect rapid-result testing kits for coronavirus.
They are available for those with children in nursery, school and college.
As many as one in three people who catch the virus display no symptoms meaning they go about their daily lives unaware they are spreading it around.
Test results for Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs) are typically available within an hour so anyone who tests positive can self-isolate immediately.
This means Covid will have far fewer opportunities to sneak into workplaces and schools and keep our communities as safe as possible.
Two sites in Bude and Launceston will be dishing them out from this week, to ensure adults with kids can test themselves for Covid-19 twice a week, if possible.
Who should use the test kits?
Adults over 18 years of age can pick up a maximum of two kits each per visit for their own use.
Other adults in the household must pick up their own kits.
Instructions on how to use the tests and record results are included with the kits.
People should not use these kits to test children. Where appropriate, children will be supplied kits by their schools.
Dr Caroline Court, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and Cornwall Council's lead on Covid-19 testing, said: "We now have collection points across the whole of Cornwall making it much easier for parents and adults in school bubbles to access this rapid testing, free of charge.
"Asymptomatic testing plays an incredibly important role in preventing the spread of the virus, stopping outbreaks before they can happen, and ultimately protecting the most vulnerable people in our communities.
"I would encourage all households with children at nursery, school or college to make sure they get hold of these tests and use them twice a week if possible".
Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Dr Caroline Court
How can I get the test kits?
New collection points are now available at:
Bude (Stratton Business Park) every Thursday, 9am-3pm, from March 25th.
Launceston (Cattle Market short stay car park) every Monday, 9am-3pm, from March 29th.
Other collection points are available at Liskeard, Bodmin, Truro, Falmouth, Camborne and Penzance.
You can find your nearest collection point here.
Anyone unable to visit a collection point can order tests to be delivered to their home here. However, stock is limited and people are encouraged to use the collection sites if possible.
Essential workers who are unable to work from home can also access drive-through LFD testing sites at Camborne, St Austell and Liskeard. You can book appointments here.
Anyone who tests positive with an LFD at home must self-isolate immediately and arrange to have a further PCR test. To book a test, visit the government website or call 119.
You can find more information on Covid-19 and testing in Cornwall here.