Wherever you are spending the holidays, to help keep yourself and those around you safe it is important that, even if you don’t have symptoms, you continue to test regularly throughout the winter break period.
You should remember to take a lateral flow test before ‘doing’ something outside of your home; whether this be travelling to another address, meeting others, going shopping, to an event or on a night out.
If you are still on campus, you can collect a lateral flow home test-kit from the helpdesk in the Sydney Jones Library until 5pm on Thursday, 23 December. Or, if you’re living in halls test kits are available from your hall reception.
You can also get lateral flow tests at one of Liverpool City Region’s testing facilities, from a pharmacy, through local authority community testing collection sites, or via the Government webpages.
Please remember to use tests you already have at home first, and only get what you need for the next seven days, rather than stockpile tests.
If your lateral flow test result is positive you should take a PCR test and self-isolate until you receive the result. If your PCR result is negative you are free to come out of self-isolation.
New guidelines for daily testing for close contacts
The latest UK Government guidance states that if you live with or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, you will no longer need to self-isolate if any of the following apply:
- you’re fully vaccinated – this means 14 days have passed since your final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine given by the NHS
- you’re under 18 years and 6 months old
- you’re taking part or have taken part in an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
- you’re not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons
In these cases, even if you do not have symptoms, you’re strongly advised to:
- do daily rapid lateral flow tests (1 a day for 7 days, or until 10 days since last contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19, if this is earlier), to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. You should take this this daily test before leaving the house for the first time each day. If you get a negative result at you can then go about your daily activities in accordance with national guidance. Find out more about daily testing on UK
- follow advice on how to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19
- consider limiting contact with people who are at higher risk from COVID-19
Those working in a vulnerable setting, should already have access to daily contact testing and should continue to follow the specific guidance from their workplace as this varies depending on the setting. This may include some healthcare students – if this applies to you, you should have been contacted by your school directly.
Testing if you have symptoms
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms you should get a PCR test and follow the latest stay at home guidance until you receive your result. Find out more about accessing a PCR test on our webpages.