A new testing site will open in Reading’s town centre, while pharmacies and supermarkets are now offering rapid tests for everyone.

From today (Friday 9 April), everyone in England will be able to access free, regular, 20-30 minute coronavirus tests.

To increase capacity in the town, Reading Borough Council (RBC) is opening a new Covid community testing site for antigen tests at Reading Town Hall from Monday (April 12).

A lab technician holds a Healgen Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Test at RocDocs testing facility in Gorey, Co. Wexford, for lorry drivers bound for France. The healthcare company has signed a contract with the Department of Transport to provide rapid Covid-19

A lab technician holds a Healgen Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Test at RocDoc's testing facility in Gorey, Co. Wexford, for lorry drivers bound for France. The healthcare company has signed a contract with the Department of Transport to provide rapid Covid-19

And pharmacies and supermarkets across the country, including 15 in Reading, are now offering tests to take home.

How can you get the rapid tests?

Many employers are offering testing in the workplace onsite or with home test kits. Secondary and college students are also being given tests, to use at home twice a week, throughout term time and the holidays.

Otherwise, here is how you can get speedy tests in Reading:

Community testing sites

There are currently community testing sites in Reading Borough where you can take a supervised test, with Reading Town Hall to become the third from Monday.

The other two community centres in Reading Borough are at Rivermead Leisure Centre and South Reading Leisure Centre.

Pharmacy pick-up

East Reading

Erleigh Road Pharmacy, 85-87 Erleigh Road

The Reading Pharmacy, 105 Wokingham Road

North Reading

Markand Pharmacy, 122 Henley Road

Rowlands Pharmacy, 59 Hemdean Road

West Reading

Tesco Extra, Portman Road

Western Elms Pharmacy, 351-353 Oxford Road

Grovelands Pharmacy, 2 Grovelands Road

Overdown Pharmacy, 5 The Colonnade

Triangle Pharmacy, 88-90 School Road (also a vaccination site)

Asda, Honey End Lane

Southcote Pharmacy, 36 Coronation Square

Newdays Pharmacy Limited, 60 Wensley Road

South Reading

All Opal Ltd, 277 Basingstoke Road

Asda Stores Ltd, Chalfont Way

Whitley Wood Pharmacy, 534 Northumberland Avenue

Order tests to your home

For people who cannot access tests through other routes, you can order packs of tests from the Government website, or call 119 to have tests delivered to your home.

You can find out more including how to register your test results here.

Why is it important to get tested regularly?

One in three people with coronavirus don’t have any symptoms and can spread the virus without knowing.

Testing twice a week with a rapid test helps to find these cases and prevent the spread of infection.

If a test is positive, everyone in the household must self-isolate immediately and the the person who tested positive should get a PCR test to confirm the result.