Rapid Covid testing available in Central Bedfordshire - seven days a week

Rapid testing is available to anyone who lives or works in Central Bedfordshire who are unable to work from home and are in a customer facing role.

Examples of these types of roles include people who work in social care, retail cashiers, childminders, bus and taxi drivers, tradespeople and construction workers.

If you go into other people’s homes or come into contact with other people as part of your job, then regular testing is important.

Around one in three people who are infected with Covid-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it.

The rapid test centre - set up by Central Bedfordshire Council - will be at Flitwick Leisure Centre, open seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm. There is no need to book an appointment, just turn up.

Rapid-turnaround lateral flow tests are easily self-administered and processed there and then on-site, giving results within an hour.

In a statement from Central Bedfordshire Council, a spokesman said: "We strongly urge people who are coming into contact with other people through their work to get tested twice a week, ideally three to four days apart.

"If through your work you are coming into contact with lots of different people, getting tested is the responsible thing to do to ensure you are not unknowingly catching or spreading the virus."

The rapid testing is also available for pregnant women and their partners prior to attending key maternity appointments.

Further information can be found on the council’s website here