CREWE'S Covid-19 testing centre is handing out lateral flow testing kits to school pupils and teachers to help assist a safe return to education.

Lateral flow tests are designed to deliver rapid testing for people without typical symptoms of coronavirus, but who may be carrying the virus undetected.

In Cheshire East borough five new asymptomatic testing sites are going live next Monday (March 15) at Sandbach, Macclesfield and Congleton so that residents can access lateral flow tests.

But in Crewe, where there is already a well-established council testing centre, the kits are to be handed out to households and bubbles of pupils, students and staff of schools and colleges (who should get tested twice-weekly) as well as the wider school community, including bus drivers and after school club leaders.

The home test lateral flow kits are available from the centre which is located at Chester Street car park, between 1.30 and 7pm.

Health chiefs say that if people produce a positive result from a home testing kit they will require a second test in order to confirm the positive result at the main centre, or a postal one ordered online.

This won't affect a person's 10-day isolation start date, which will start after the lateral flow positive result itself.

This is not the case for a positive result from lateral flow tests carried out in a pharmacy or at an asymptomatic testing site. No confirmatory test is needed, and self-isolation must start immediately upon receiving the results.

At the asymptomatic testing sites appointments must be pre-booked and there are no walk-ups.

The nearest site to Crewe is at the Wesley Centre in Sandbach and Middlewich Community Church in Brooks Lane.

Testing is also available at selected pharmacies across Cheshire East.

Director of Public Health for Cheshire East Council Dr Matt Tyrer said: "These new testing sites will enable us to deliver an effective screening programme to identify people who are asymptomatic but are unknowingly carrying the Covid-19 virus.

"The test is quick to take and provides rapid results in just 30 minutes. This means that when a negative result is received, that person can go about their normal day, within the current level of restrictions, and not have to isolate while waiting for results.

"The roll out of these rapid testing sites in Cheshire East does not replace the need for social distancing measures, good hand hygiene and the wearing of face masks. It's still important for residents to remember hands, face and space."

Lateral flow tests are swiftly available with results sent out via email and SMS within an hour.

A booking facility has gone live in Cheshire East so residents can pre-book in advance for the asymptomatic sites from March 15. Those struggling to book online can call the Cheshire East Council contact tracing team on 0300 123 5032, which will help residents to book a slot.