Thousands of people across Kingston who have to leave their homes for work or to volunteer are accessing regular, rapid coronavirus tests.

The testing programme is available to anyone who cannot work from home and does not have any coronavirus symptoms.

One in three people with COVID-19 do not have any symptoms. By taking twice weekly tests at one of the borough's four local testing sites, workers can go to work safely in the knowledge that they are not unknowingly spreading the virus to others.

One of these workers is Jill Smith, a paediatric physiotherapist with Achieving for Children. She treats children and young people who need support with their mobility and sees her clients face to face every day.

She has regular COVID-19 tests to ensure she isn't unknowingly putting the families that she works with at risk of picking up the virus.

She said:

"I work with children and young people some of whom are medically vulnerable. They rely on the support and good health of their families and carers who need to be protected from contracting the virus from visiting health professionals like me.

"I decided to have testing to reduce the risk of passing on the virus to the children and families that I work with, and to provide reassurance to those I come in contact with. I feel responsible for keeping myself well and virus-free.

"Testing is easy to book. Various sites are available across the borough. The test is quick, pain free and easy to carry out. Results are available within 30 minutes to an hour. Staff are friendly and helpful."

Kingston Council's Director of Public Health, Iona Lidington said:

"It's really important that residents who aren't able to work from home get tested on a regular basis.

"One in three people with Coronavirus have no symptoms but can still spread the virus. If you are unable to work from home getting tested twice a week will help to stop the spread and keep yourself and others safe.

"Cases are still high in Kingston so we must all continue to stay home, wash our hands, wear a face covering and keep our distance from others."

If you can't work from home and have no coronavirus symptoms, visit www.kingston.gov.uk/rapid-testing to book.