Around one in three people with coronavirus do not have symptoms. They can spread the virus without knowing it. Getting tested is the only way to know if you have the virus.
Getting into the habit of twice-weekly testing as part of our everyday lives will help us all to play our part, and do what we can to keep each other safe. Regular testing alongside the vaccine will ensure we can continue to ease our way out of lockdown.
You can now get a twice-weekly rapid test (also known as a lateral flow test) in any of the following ways:
Contact your employer, school, college, or university to find out if they can offer rapid testing to you.
Testing at these local sites is assisted, which means a trained helper can provide help with doing the test. You can book an appointment or you can just turn up. Do check opening times before you go. You will get a text or email with your results.
You can also pick up test kits to test yourself at home from the community test sites. If you haven’t had a rapid test before we recommend going to a test site first for an assisted test.
Find out more about community testing and book an appointment on our web page.
You can collect packs of two home test kits at a local collection point and each pack contains seven tests.
- Anyone 18 or over can collect a test kit
- You can check online if the location is open or busy before you go
- You do not need to make an appointment
Find your local collection site
Test kits are also available at the following locations:
If you can't get tested at your workplace or you're unable to go to a test site or collect test kits, order a home test kit online for delivery to your home.
You can also call 119. Lines are open 7am to 11pm and calls are free.119 provides support in 200 languages. InterpreterNow is a free online British Sign Language interpreter service for 119.
Our mobile testing van will travel to various locations across Bath and North East Somerset until the end of December.
The van will give out free home self-test kits and offer supervised lateral flow testing for people without symptoms.
The vans will visit from 9am to 5pm seven days a week until the end of December.
| Date | Morning location | Afternoon location (from 2pm) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 25 October | Beacon Hall, Peasedown St John | Red Post Inn, Bath Road, Peasedown St John |
| Tuesday 26 October | Mulberry Way, Mulberry Park, Combe Down, Bath | Royal Victoria Park, Bath |
| Wednesday 27 October | Ashton Way Car Park, Keynsham | Ashton Way Car Park, Keynsham |
| Thursday 28 October | The Star Inn, High Littleton | The Star Inn, High Littleton |
| Friday 29 October | Milsom Street, Bath | Milsom Street, Bath |
| Saturday 30 October | Milsom Street, Bath | Milsom Street, Bath |
| Sunday 31 October | Milsom Street, Bath | Milsom Street, Bath |
| Monday 1 November | Orchard Community Hall, Midsomer Norton | Orchard Community Hall, Midsomer Norton |
| Tuesday 2 November | Radstock Working Mens Club | Westfield Methodist Church, Radstock |
| Wednesday 3 November | Lidl, Bath | Lidl, Bath |
| Thursday 4 November | Mulberry Way, Mulberry Park, Combe Down, Bath | Royal Victoria Park, Bath |
| Friday 5 November | Paulton Village Hall | Paulton Village Hall |
| Saturday 6 November | South Road Car Park, Midsomer Norton | South Road Car Park, Midsomer Norton |
| Sunday 7 November | Twerton High Street | Twerton High Street |
What twice-weekly testing involves
How to perform the test
Clear instructions on how to take the test are available on the GOV.UK website. These include large print and easy read formats, and a wide variety of versions in other languages.
View guidance on how to take a rapid test
You can also view videos explaining how rapid tests work, showing how to take the test, and find patient leaflet translations on the Public Health England website.
How to report your results
If you do tests at home you are asked to do the following:
- take a test twice a week (every three or four days apart)
- Report your test result online or by calling 119.
If you test positive
If you did a rapid lateral flow test and the result was positive:
- self-isolate straight away – check if people you live with need to self-isolate
- report your rapid lateral flow test result on GOV.UK as soon as possible or call 119
- get a PCR test (a test that is sent to a lab) to confirm your result – get a PCR test to check if you have COVID-19 on GOV.UK or call 119. In England, if you do not get a PCR test within 2 days of a positive rapid lateral flow test, you will need to self-isolate for 10 full days even if you get a negative PCR result.
Continue to self-isolate until you get the result of the PCR test. Follow the advice you are given when you get the result.
A negative result means the test did not find signs of coronavirus. But this does not guarantee you do not have coronavirus, so you should keep following all coronavirus advice including regular handwashing and wearing a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet.
Find out more information on your test result on the NHS website.
If you’re not sure about different test types, you can find out which COVID-19 test you should get.