COVID-19 - community testing

Currently you can collect test kits from:

• Devizes Leisure Centre
• The reception at Monkton park in Chippenham
• The reception at Bourne Hill in Salisbury
• Salisbury Beehive Park and Ride
• Trowbridge Greyhound Pub Car Park
• Other lateral flow test collection sites shown on this map: NHS Rapid lateral flow test sites and collection sites

No, there is no booking requirement, you can just turn up to pick up your testing kit

It is recommended to take a lateral flow test twice weekly.  There are seven tests in a pack.

It is important to always submit your results, because:

1. Asymptomatic testing plays a key role in the exit from lockdown
2. Asymptomatic testing can reduce transmission of the virus through early detection where people are regularly testing twice a week.
3. To be most effective, levels of both participation and compliance with self-reporting and self-isolation need to be as high as possible.
4. Making sure you submit the results will also link in with track and trace

If you did a rapid lateral flow test at home and the result was positive:

• you and anyone you live with should self-isolate immediately
• report your rapid lateral flow test result on GOV.UK as soon as possible
• get a PCR test (a test that is sent to a lab) to confirm your result - get a PCR test to check if you have coronavirus on GOV.UK

Continue to self-isolate until you get the result of the PCR test. Follow the advice you're given when you get the result.

If you test positive, you may also claim for a Test and trace support payment if you are eligible.

Our Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub also remains in place for support, including help for those self-isolating due to a positive test or as a close contact where they don't have friends and family to help. The Hub will be able to provide advice or support for individuals who are required to self-isolate and need practical, social and emotional support.

You can call the hub on 0300 003 4576 or email wellbeinghub@wiltshire.gov.uk. It's open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

Those who require help with tasks such as picking up food and other essentials, should ask friends or family or order online. If they do not have family, friends or a support network that can help, please contact the Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub and request help.

Even if you receive a negative test, please continue to follow all the preventative measures currently recommended for stopping the spread of the virus.

To protect yourself and others, you must remember: Hands. Face. Space. Fresh air

• Hands - wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water often, and as soon as you get home - use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• Face - wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet
• Space - stay at least 2 metres away from anyone you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble
• Fresh air - meet people outdoors

No, our community testing programme is for asymptomatic people.

Free testing continues to be available to everyone in Wiltshire. Please book a test if you have symptoms of Coronavirus - high temperature, continuous cough or loss of/change in taste or smell - at NHS Coronavirus or by calling 119.

Find out how to test yourself for coronavirus (COVID-19) if you are asked to, and learn what help is available on the GOV.UK website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-self-test-help#self-test-instructions

• You can call the 119 helpline for assistance with registering your test or reporting results
• People with hearing or speech difficulties can call 18001119. This service is available to assist someone through the process of booking and taking a test but cannot provide clinical advice
• A translation service via calling 119 is available for support throughout the testing process. 119 are able to support in up to 650 languages including British Sign language (BSL)

No, surge testing is increased testing (including door-to-door testing) and enhanced contact tracing in specific locations in England. Surge testing is not currently taking place in Wiltshire.

Avoid eating or drinking for at least 30 minutes before taking the test to reduce the risk of spoiling the test.

Lateral flow antigen tests are a new kind of technology that can be used to test a higher proportion of asymptomatic people, better enabling us to identify and isolate more people who are at high likelihood of spreading virus, and break the chains of transmission.

A Lateral Flow Test (LFT) detects the presence or absence of coronavirus from a swab or saliva sample.

The sample is mixed with a buffer solution, which releases and breaks up virus fragments. Some of the solution is then dropped on to the lateral flow device. The sample runs along the surface of the devices' absorbent strip, showing at the end a visual positive or negative result dependent on the presence of the virus.

No.

Antigen lateral flow tests are highly specific, which means that only a small proportion of people who do not have coronavirus will receive a positive result.

Extensive clinical evaluation from Public Health England and the University of Oxford shows that lateral flow tests are appropriate for large-scale population testing, including for asymptomatic people.

Lateral flow tests are validated technology, it is safe, inexpensive and the results are trusted.

Extensive clinical evaluation from Public Health England and the University of Oxford show Lateral Flow Tests

LFTs are specific and sensitive enough to be deployed for mass testing, including for asymptomatic people.

If you get a positive result, it is likely that you were infectious at the time the test was taken.

The antigen test cannot detect very low levels of coronavirus in a sample, so if you have only recently been infected, are in the incubation period, or if you have mostly recovered, the test may not give a positive result. Therefore, if you receive a negative test you cannot guarantee you haven't had or will get COVID-19.

It takes less than 15 minutes to complete the test.

The test should produce a result within half an hour.

The UK Government has been purchasing kits. The current position is that these will not be available to purchase on the market.

The cost per kit is not disclosed due to commercial confidentiality and sensitivities.

With higher incidence of COVID-19 in the general population, expert public health advice is that there is limited value in a confirmatory PCR test. Regular staff testing, with self-isolation for those who test positive, helps to protect other staff from getting the virus and helps to reduce overall absences from work.