Fast coronavirus testing stations for people without symptoms can now be used by anyone who lives or works in Swale or Thanet.

The centres were originally set up for key workers by invitation only.

Kent's public health director Andrew Scott-Clark said today: “We have opened up the booking system for our symptom-free testing sites to allow anyone who lives or works in the two districts to get a test.

"It’s important that as many people without symptoms come forward and book themselves tests so we can find people who may be unknowingly transmitting the virus either at home or at work."

One in three people may have Covid-19 but show no signs.

Mr Scott-Clark added: "With this new strain which is more transmissible we need to identify those people and encourage them to isolate so we break the chain of transmission."

He stressed: "Everyone across Kent should keep following the tier 4 restrictions and limit social interactions. It’s important to self-isolate, not only after receiving a positive test result but also while you wait for the results.”

The two existing sites are at Sheerness East Working Men's Club at Halfway on the Isle of Sheppey and at Ramsgate Port. They opened on Friday, December 18, and are funded by central government. Other sites are expected to open across Kent from Monday, January 4.

To book a test in Swale or Thanet use this link: kcc.healthit.org.uk

If you have symptoms book a PCR test at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

Read more: All the latest news from Sheppey

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet

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