NHS Test and Trace Service

Information about testing for Coronavirus

To support national contract tracing efforts, we are asking all residents to download and use the NHS COVID-19 app, and for businesses and venues to create and display QR posters to allow visitors to log in.

How to download the app

IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

Symptoms of Covid-19 include:

  • A high temperature
  • A new, continuous cough
  • Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

If you have any of these symptoms, you should try to stay at home and reduce the number of people you meet face-to-face.

Further guidance for self-isolating due to the coronavirus

Who can get a PCR test?

Most people in England are no longer advised to get tested.

Further information is available on the NHS website

However, free PCR tests will be available to a number of residents, including:

  • Patients in hospital, where a PCR test is required for their care and to provide access to treatments and to support ongoing clinical surveillance for new variants;
  • People who are eligible for community Covid-19 treatments because they are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from Covid-19. People in this group will be contacted directly and sent lateral flow tests to keep at home for use if they have symptoms as well as being told how to reorder tests; and
  • People living or working in some high-risk settings. For example, staff in adult social care services such as homecare organisations and care homes, and residents in care homes and extra care and supported living services, NHS workers and those working and living in hospices, and prisons and places of detention (including immigration removal centres), where infection needs to be identified quickly to minimise outbreaks. People will also be tested before being discharged from hospital into care homes, hospices.

What the test involves

The test involves taking a swab of the inside of your nose and the back of your throat, using a long cotton bud. You can do the swab yourself or someone can do it for you.

What does the result mean?

If you receive a negative result this means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time you were tested. You must still follow the guidelines and exercise caution to prevent you from getting the virus. This means:

  • Maintain social distancing by keeping two metres apart
  • Wash your hands often
  • Wear a face covering on public transport and in shops
  • Get tested if you have symptoms