More than 250,000 rapid Covid-19 tests have been given to Staffordshire residents at local testing sites.

The county council has been offering rapid Covid-19 tests to residents without symptoms since Autumn 2020, both at community testing sites and from mobile pop-up testing vans.

One in three people with coronavirus do not show symptoms, and the council says that regular testing an essential tool for people to quickly and easily check they're not carrying the virus before leaving home to visit people outside of their household, go to work or the shops.

Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, Dr. Johnny McMahon, said: "Thanks to the hard work of staff, partners and volunteers, a quarter of a million tests have now been given to people in Staffordshire to help alert those who are infectious and need to self-isolate, while allowing others to carry on with their everyday lives.

"Reaching this milestone shows that residents recognise how vital regular testing is to controlling coronavirus, protecting our loved ones and opening back up our local economy. More than 15,000 people are being tested weekly and we will continue to provide a range of community testing options to ensure rapid testing is quick and easy for our residents."

People are urged to continue getting tested twice a week as we enter the third stage of the Government's roadmap and further limits on social distancing and household mixing are lifted.

Director for Health and Care at Staffordshire County Council, Dr. Richard Harling, stressed the importance of continued regular testing as national restrictions ease.

He added: "Regular testing remains an effective way to contain the spread of infection, protect our fellow residents and help ensure restrictions can continue to be lifted as planned.

"It's easier than ever before to build testing into your regular routine, with rapid tests available from community testing sites, pharmacies, mobile testing pop ups and other venues such as local libraries. People can also get tests from schools and selected workplaces."

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