Lateral flow tests for eligible direct contacts

30 July 2021

Islanders, aged 12 and above, who live with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, and all direct and indirect contacts who work in critical infrastructure roles, emergency services, or care, can now receive lateral flow test (LFT) kits. 

The LFT kits will enable 10 days of rapid self-testing while following the direct contact advice. The kits will be distributed when the individual attends their PCR test. 

To be eligible for the direct contact LFT kits, you must either be:

How to take the tests and read results

Director of Testing and Tracing, Rachel Williams, said: “It can be worrying when someone in your home has tested positive for COVID-19. We hope that offering lateral flow test kits to household members will help to provide reassurance about your own COVID status, every day, so that you can make informed choices about your activities for that day. 

“Lateral flow tests are designed for rapid results and are simple enough to be done at home in a matter of minutes, with results available in 20-30 minutes. Lateral Flow Tests can identify COVID-19 infections, especially if someone is highly infectious. I would encourage anyone who is offered the LFT kits to test themselves daily, to help keep families and our wider community safe.”

Direct contacts who do not live with someone who is positive, or who do not work in critical infrastructure or emergency services, will not be eligible to receive LFT kits at this time, but will need to take one PCR test as per the current guidance. 

Director General for Justice and Home Affairs, Julian Blazeby, said: “It is important that we maintain our vital services during this pandemic. By offering direct contacts within critical infrastructure and emergency services 10 days of LFTs, we can be sure those services are operating safely and maintaining continuity across the Island.”

From Friday 30 July, individuals will be able to submit their LFT results via an online portal using a unique reference code sent to them by email. 

Anyone eligible for the ‘direct contact’ LFT kits who is currently taking weekly LFT tests in their workplace should stop their workplace tests while conducting daily LFTs for the 10-day period. Direct contacts who are receiving regular PCR tests at their workplace, should continue to do so. 

If an LFT comes back positive, the individual should immediately isolate and call the helpline to book a PCR. If any direct contact becomes symptomatic, they should stop using the LFT kit and book a PCR test by calling the helpline on 0800 735 5566. 

Anyone with symptoms should not use public transport to travel to the test centres but should use private transport or arrange a home visit.