On behalf of Warrington, our Mayor Cllr Maureen Creaghan, sends sincere condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family, following the death of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. Read the Mayor's full statement.
Symptom-free testing
If you have been tested at a symptom-free testing site or as part of a home testing programme and you receive a positive lateral flow test (LFT) result, you should self-isolate and get a confirmatory NHS (PCR) test.
If you do not get a confirmatory PCR test within two days of a positive LFT result, you will need to self-isolate for 10 days, even if you get a negative PCR result.
Every resident in Warrington is able to access regular symptom-free COVID tests, called lateral flow tests (LFTs).
There are a number of options when choosing to get a test to ensure you are not unknowingly spreading the virus to others as more restrictions are eased.
If you have any coronavirus symptoms, no matter how mild, you should not use any of the options below and instead self-isolate and book an NHS (PCR) test via gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.
All residents are now able to get twice-weekly lateral flow tests by using one of the following:
Workplace testing
This includes testing sites at your workplace, if it is available, where you can take a supervised test, or via workplace collect, where you can pick up a box of tests to use at home. The deadline for registering to order free rapid lateral flow tests was 12 April 2021.
You should speak to your employer to see if they have already registered and are setting up workplace testing, or find out more about business testing for employees on GOV.UK.
Testing at school, college or university
Pupils are already being given tests to use at home twice a week throughout term time and the holidays. Staff at schools, colleges, universities and nurseries should receive tests via their employers but they can also order the tests online via LFD Direct if required.
Primary school aged pupils and students not included in school or nursery testing programmes
The symptom-free testing programme offers all primary school, schools-based nursery, and maintained nursery school staff home Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test kits for twice weekly testing. This helps to break the chains of transmission of coronavirus in education settings by identifying symptom-free, positive cases. Those who test positive must then self-isolate in accordance with the national guidance, helping to reduce transmission of the virus.
Pupils are not included in the rapid, regular symptom-free testing in primary school and nursery settings. Primary school aged children should only be tested if they are displaying symptoms, in which case their families should follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection and book a PCR test for the child.
Testing is voluntary but staff, secondary school aged, college and further education pupils and students are encouraged to participate as testing regularly helps to reduce the spread in school and college settings through asymptomatic transmission.
LFD Direct
For people who can’t access tests through the other routes, you can order the tests online or through 119, which will be delivered to your home. You can order one box per household each day. You will need to be over 18 to order to test via this service.
If you do the tests at home, you'll need to report your results to NHS Test and Trace online or on the app.
Pharmacy collect
You can collect test kits for yourself from participating pharmacies to be carried out at home. NHS England’s site finder allows you to search pharmacies near you that offer pharmacy collect. Over the coming weeks, more pharmacies will be signing up to the programme.
Community testing sites
Take a supervised symptom-free test at any of our five testing sites for those with no symptoms of coronavirus.
Two main symptom-free testing sites are at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and Grappenhall Parish Centre, and four ‘pop ups’ sites are based in Birchwood, Croft, Lymm and Burtonwood.
These sites are called 'symtom-free' testing sites and should only be used by people who do not have any COVID symptoms - you are 'symptom-free' or asymptomatic.
The sites will help to identify people who are not displaying any coronavirus symptoms but who may still have the virus and could therefore pass it, unknowingly, to others.
We are also offering a community collect option at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and Grappenhall Parish Centre, where you can pick up a box of tests to use at home.
Symptom-free sites and opening times
The opening times for the sites are:
Symptom-free people only
If you are displaying any symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, including a new, persistent cough, high temperature or loss of normal taste or smell, you must not turn up to any of the symptom-free testing sites and should instead book an NHS (PCR) test through the normal process via the gov.uk website.
The testing sites will use rapid lateral flow tests (LFTs) to provide results without the need for laboratory equipment. The devices use a nose and throat swab to identify the presence or absence coronavirus, and can be self-administered under the supervision of trained staff.
Visiting the site
You won’t need to book in advance to visit any symptom-free testing site. The sites will have a somewhere for you to register and will have testing booths and recording facilities on-site. There will be clear signage in place to enter and exit the building and queue management processes in place.
Taking the test
Taking your test will be via a throat and nose swab, with clear guidance and instructions to be offered. Testing staff at the facility will be available to direct people to testing booths and will advise on how to take the test.
As soon as you have taken your test, you should leave the testing site, ensuring that you sanitise your hands and remain socially distanced from others.
Receiving your result
After you have taken the self-swab in the testing station and left the site, you will receive your result by text and/or email.
If you have been tested at a symptom-free testing site or as part of a home testing programme and you receive a positive lateral flow test result, you should self-isolate and get a confirmatory NHS (PCR) test.
If you do not get a confirmatory PCR test within two days of a positive lateral flow test, you will need to self-isolate for 10 days, even if you get a negative PCR result.
You can book a confirmatory NHS coronavirus (PCR) test via gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119 if you do not have internet access.
If your test is negative, it is absolutely vital that you continue to follow the current national restrictions. Receiving a negative test result does not make you exempt from the current guidance and restrictions. It is vital that you adhere to the rules by keeping socially distanced, wearing a face covering and washing your hands often.