As of Friday 9 April everyone in England can now access free, regular, rapid COVID-19 testing. Local MP Robbie Moore is urging constituents across the Keighley and Ilkley constituency to take advantage of this as the Government continues to ease Covid restrictions.
Alongside the roll-out of the vaccine, regular testing is an essential part of the easing of restrictions, helping identify variants and stopping individual cases from becoming outbreaks. Anyone can now access free, rapid lateral flow tests for themselves and their families to use twice a week, in line with clinical guidance.
To encourage people to get into the habit of using lateral flow tests twice a week, the Government is launching a major public information campaign which will run across TV, radio, press, digital, out-of-home advertising and social media.
The campaign explains that rapid lateral flow tests show results in under 30 minutes, and by taking them we can take the ‘next step safely’, protecting our loved ones, customers, workmates and friends as we continue to cautiously ease restrictions. It also demonstrates how people can fit these free, rapid tests into their morning routine to help create the new testing habit that will help to get us back to normal life.
Commenting, Robbie Moore said: “We have made great progress this year with supressing the number of Covid cases, bringing down the need for hospitalisation as well as reducing the number of deaths due to Covid. There is light at the end of the tunnel and the light is getting brighter. Giving free regular access to rapid Covid-19 tests to people who do not show Covid symptoms is another way in which we can protect ourselves against Covid and continue with the roadmap to reopening all sections of society. Accessing these tests will ensure that we protect those around us whilst the vaccine rollout continues and ensures that new variants can be found even quicker.”
