COVID-19 home testing kits will soon be available to pick up from libraries across Worcestershire

From Tuesday (April 6), testing kits will be available to collect from libraries in Alvechurch, Bewdley, Broadway, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Hagley, Pershore, Rubery, St. Johns, Stourport, Tenbury, Upton, Warndon, Woodrow and Wythall.

The government announced last month that residents who have regular contact with children will be able to test themselves for coronavirus twice a week at home.

This includes staff of primary and secondary schools, nurseries and colleges, and households and support bubbles of children and students. The testing kits, are also available to anyone who works in a related occupation such as school and public transport bus drivers.

People can also get their rapid home testing kits by contact their employer if they are offering testing, collecting a home test kit from one of Worcestershire’s Community Testing Sites, or by

ordering a home test kit online by visiting www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

Regular rapid tests are designed to deliver speedy testing for people who do not have symptoms of Covid-19, but who may still be carrying the virus.

It does not require laboratory processing, can be carried out at home, and delivers a result in just 30 minutes.

Around 1 in 3 people with Covid-19 do not have symptoms, so a test that rapidly detects these cases and can help people to start self isolating if they test positive is a useful tool in the fight against Coronavirus.

Dr. Kathryn Cobain, Director of Public Health in Worcestershire said: “It’s great for us to be able to announce community collection points at public libraries, making it easier than ever for residents to access home testing kits. I’d like to thank everyone involved with the set up of these sites. Home testing kits are quick and easy to use, and they are a another way of helping to keep our families safe, and protect our local communities as we continue to look forward.”