With the full return to school underway, regular coronavirus testing is available for free for all households with nursery, primary, secondary and college age children and young people.
This includes households in associated childcare and support bubbles, and those with school staff and adults working in the wider school community, such as supply teachers, school bus drivers, and after school club leaders.
Simon Bryant, director of public health at the Isle of Wight Council, said:
“Seeing everyone return to face-to-face learning is an important step on the journey towards a cautious easing of lockdown restrictions.
“We know that around one in three people with coronavirus do not have symptoms but can still pass it on to others, which is why it’s crucial we support regular COVID-19 testing for people without symptoms, to help keep our educational settings, staff and families safe.
“This ensures we can detect positive cases within households quickly, break chains of infection, and prevent the virus from spreading. I urge anyone who is eligible to take part in this free, voluntary scheme, to help keep themselves and others safe and well.”
Who can use ‘Community Collect’ home test kits?
This voluntary testing is for people without COVID-19 symptoms (asymptomatic), and is being offered in line with the government’s roadmap out of national restrictions.
The following groups can collect free asymptomatic test kits for use at home twice each week:
- Households with nursery, primary school, secondary school and college age children, including those in their childcare and support bubbles.
- Households, childcare and support bubbles of nursery, primary, secondary and college staff.
- Adults working in the wider school community, including supply teachers, bus drivers and after school club leaders.
If an eligible person is unable to collect test kits to do at home, they can book an asymptomatic test at a community testing site or order a home test kit for home delivery.
Where to collect home test kits
Test kits are available to collect from Newclose County Cricket Ground, Blackwater Road, Newport. Kits can be collected in the afternoon only, from 12:30 until 16:30, 7 days a week and no appointment is required.
Anyone aged 18 or over can collect 2 packs of seven lateral flow device kits (a total of 14 individual tests) per visit. Identification is not required to pick up the kits.
Each kit comes with full instructions for use and explains what to do if your test result is positive, negative or void, and how to register your result with NHS Test and Trace.
If you are unable to go to one of the above testing sites to collect test kits, or cannot attend an appointment at a Community Testing Site, you can order a home test kit online.
Anyone testing positive at home will need to isolate and book a follow-up PCR test as soon as possible.
Testing for anyone with COVID-19 symptoms
The home testing scheme should not be used by anyone who is experiencing any of the symptoms of coronavirus.
Any adult or child of any age with symptoms must follow self-isolation guidance and book a PCR test.
