A TEMPORARY suspension of RBWM's lateral flow test Community Collect scheme has been put in place.

The council experienced a high demand for home test kits as pharmacies stocks were low.

During the Christmas period, the council distributed 5,500 kits.

Cllr Stuart Carroll, lead member for adult social care, children services and health, said: "With our stocks of home use lateral flow test kits now depleted, we’ve sadly had to temporarily suspend our Community Collect scheme at our leisure centres while we await delivery confirmation of our next order."

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Cllr Carroll added the council's lateral flow test assisted testing site at Braywick Leisure Centre will remain open as normal.

He said: "We cannot hand out assisted testing LFTs for home use as they’re not designed for this purpose.

"However, care home, education, and NHS professionals can use assisted LFT kits at home, so we’re working with our partners to enable this and to minimise any disruption.

"Please be assured the council is working tirelessly to resolve the supply situation with central government, and we’re also directly coordinating with the UK Health Security Agency."

The council is ready to receive additional stocks during weekends and outside normal working hours.

And, in the meantime, Cllr Carroll said they are doing "all they can" to secure the speedy delivery of their next bath of home use lateral flow tests.

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He said: "It’s good to see people taking responsibility to test, to be safe, and to stop the virus spreading, which is the main reason for this increased demand in home kits.

"It’s critical everyone continues to follow the guidance particularly if you have Covid symptoms."