Home test kits made available to parents

18,000 UNITS FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN NOW BACK AT SCHOOL

COVID home testing kits can be picked up from a community testing centre by families of young people now back at school.

Leicestershire County Council has 18,000 testing kits for parents and carers to pick up as part of a pilot programme.

The aim is to allow people who are living with school-age children and not showing symptoms of Covid-19 to regularly test themselves, in the hope it identifies asymptomatic cases, therefore preventing the spread of the virus.

Grandparents or those who are regularly in contact with a child can also collect kits from the community testing centre in Blaby.

Council leader Nick Rushton said: “I’m pleased the government has chosen Leicestershire to pilot this initiative.

“Our community testing centres are working well, and enabling our key workers to remain on the frontline and curbing the spread of the virus.

“In Blaby, initially, we’re expanding them to give people another option to collect home test kits.

“Local government has played a big role in managing the pandemic

I’m pleased we’re leading the way in another national rollout

Nick Rushton, right

and I’m pleased we’re leading the way in another national rollout.” The kits can also be ordered online via the government website. People wanting to collect kits need to book a slot – this will include instructions in using the tests.

The community testing centre at Blaby Social Centre is one of seven across the county and is for key workers, or anyone else who cannot work from home, who does not have symptoms and are not already isolating.

Depending on the results of the national pilot and delivery of kits, it may be rolled out to other community test centres.

People showing coronavirus symptoms should immediately isolate and book an NHS test by calling 119 or at: