Symptom-free community testing is now available in test centres and participating pharmacies across Sussex

Anyone aged 18 and over who can’t work from home is encouraged to book in for a symptom-free Covid-19 test.

As efforts to combat the spread of the virus continue, local testing is being rolled out to help identify as many people as possible who have Covid-19 but not the symptoms

The pan-Sussex Community Testing Programme launches this week as a partnership between West Sussex County Council, East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council.

It offers free, rapid lateral flow tests to anyone who isn’t showing signs of Covid-19, who can’t work from home and who can’t access testing through other means.

You can book a test at one of 24 local community pharmacies across Sussex or at one of two dedicated testing sites, one at the Moulsecoomb Leisure Centre in Brighton, one at Hove Town Hall.

More pharmacies will be available across Sussex in the coming weeks, making it even easier to get a test close to where you live or work.

Further details about community testing, including how to book, are available on the Brighton & Hove City Council website.

Alistair Hill, Director of Public Health at Brighton & Hove City Council said:

“Thank you as always for all your personal efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19.

“Alongside vaccinations and the hands, face, space guidance, symptom free testing is an important step towards to beating this.

“If everyone who needs to leave home to work or help others takes regular symptom-free tests, we can more quickly identify who’s got the virus and take immediate action to stop the spread.

“Working with our partners to offer the programme across the whole of Sussex will make testing more convenient for residents. You should be able to find somewhere that’s close to either where you live or work so that you can do it on your way.

Who can get a symptom-free test?

Anyone who lives or works in Sussex who must leave home and does not have access to a symptom-free test through other routes can book a test.

This may include those that cannot work from home, or those that need to leave home to volunteer or provide care to others.

If you have already been vaccinated you should still book a test as it’s possible to still carry the virus.

To book

To make an appointment please go to the booking website at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/communitytesting or call 01243 642130.

You can make an appointment at any of the participating pharmacies across Sussex, so you can get tested wherever’s most convenient for you - close to where you live or work.

Pharmacies will be offering tests during their normal opening hours and the testing centres will be offering tests Monday to Saturday.

Testing is quick and easy

The testing process takes around 10 minutes and booking in advance means there’s no waiting around.

At both pharmacies and testing centres, you will carry out your own swab test and it will be processed by staff on site. You should receive your result within 30 minutes.

It’s recommended that two tests a week are taken, three days apart.

If you test negative, this does not completely rule out infection so you must continue to follow the current guidelines, including hands, face, space.

If you receive a positive test, you must self-isolate immediately and you will be given advice by NHS Test and Trace.

If you need support while you are self-isolating, help is available from our community hub.

Find out more

Symptom-free testing is also available for some people through workplaces, schools and collection sites. Find out more about symptom-free testing in Brighton & Hove.