Businesses in Falmouth, Penryn and Cornwall wide who carry out essential duties but are unable to work from home will have access to twice-weekly asymptomatic testing from next week.

The Community Testing Programme uses rapid Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) and ensures businesses can continue to operate as efficiently as possible while protecting their staff and the wider community.

Launching on Monday, March 1st, and co-ordinated by Cornwall Council, it is aimed at groups such as childcare staff, cleaners, construction workers, delivery drivers, factory workers, taxi drivers and retail assistants.

It also includes frontline Council staff and firefighters, as well as voluntary sector workers and people who are self-employed.

The programme is an extension of existing workplace testing schemes available to NHS and frontline workers.

Those who test positive will be asked to self-isolate immediately to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The LFT results are provided in just 30 minutes and are being made available to employers in two ways:

Option 1: Tests are carried out on the business premises twice a week, overseen by a nominated and trained member of staff.

Option 2: Employees of the business can access one of three drive-through testing sites in Camborne (Dolcoath Avenue), St Austell (Penwinnick Road) or Liskeard (Luxstowe House) twice a week, during working hours. Sites are open seven days a week from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Cllr Sally Hawken, Portfolio Holder for Children, Wellbeing and Public Health, added:

"Allowing businesses to test their staff in this way is vital to stop the spread of the virus, keep our communities safe and ultimately save lives.

"It will also stop the virus spreading throughout entire workforces, which means companies in Cornwall will be able to keep trading, protecting our economy as much as possible."

Essential workers whose employers are not signed up to the programme can still book an asymptomatic test at one of the drive-through sites here.

Businesses interested in signing up to the programme should do so by completing the Council's survey here.

[H3] Don't forget, you can see all the latest news and join in on the conversation on our Twitter and Facebook pages. [.H2]