Secondary school children will have three initial Covid tests at school and then after that they will be able to do them at home.

As part of the city's preventative work to stop the spread of Covid-19, rapid testing is now available for the households, or childcare and support bubbles of primary and secondary pupils and school staff.

The tests are for people who do not have any Covid symptoms - and are an extra precaution. 

The rapid tests (called lateral flow devices) involve swabs to the back of the nose and throat and can give a result within half an hour because they do not need to be sent off to a lab for analysis. 

Tests can be carried out at home and kits can be collected from our local testing sites. If this isn't possible, home test kits can be ordered online. 

The local testing sites are open now and will be open in afternoons from 1.30pm - 7pm daily to collect kits.   

The sites are: 

• Armitage / Moseley Road - Lower Carpark, Fallowfield 
• Ancoats Central Retail Park, Ancoats & Beswick  
• Belle Vue Speedway, Longsight  
• Brownley Road, Woodhouse Park 
• Birchall Way (Former Landrover garage), Hulme 
• Denmark Road Building, Rusholme 
• Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield  
• Ukrainian Cultural Centre, Cheetham 

We are looking into how we can make kits more widely available will update as plans progress. 

Full details can be found at Rapid lateral flow testing for households and bubbles of school pupils and staff - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

A period of Enhanced Testing for Covid-19 in parts of Moston and Harpurhey ended on Wednesday 3 March. The testing was set up nearly two weeks ago after a case of the Kent Variant of Covid-19 was traced back to this part of Manchester. 

In what is now standard practice in this type of situation, measures were put in place to contain the further spread of the virus through mass testing of thousands of residents.  

Earlier in the year the same procedure took place in Moss Side, Whalley Range, Fallowfield and Hulme after several cases of the Kent Variant were detected.  

In north Manchester, Mobile Testing Units were set up in Ebsworth Street and Thorp Road, allowing residents to walk or drive up to receive a PCR swab test for Covid-19. 

During the period of Enhanced Testing a total of 2,650 tests were carried out. This was supported by more than 2,900 door knocks, as well as letters being sent out to thousands of households. 

Figures are still being collected from across the area, but as of 3 March, 31 positive cases were recorded. These will go on for further testing to determine if any are of the new strain.  

It is vital that residents continue to observe social distancing measures, as well as wear masks and minimise contact with people not living in their household. 

Read more about enhanced testing.  

Sometimes people can have the Covid virus without knowing it and without any symptoms. 

That's why we have an extra form of rapid testing to help us pick up these cases. 

If you live or work in Manchester and are not able to work from home, you can have rapid testing (lateral flow testing) twice a week. 

The tests are for people, who do not have symptoms, and whose own organisation or employer does not offer a testing scheme. 

Larger employers (50+) have been asked where possible to sign up to a Government scheme to do their own testing. 

Book a slot at our test sites across the city by ringing 0161 947 0770/ 0800 0924020. Slots are available Monday- Saturday and can be arranged to fit work and shift patterns.

Remember, that even if your test is negative, you must still follow all social distance and other safety measures. And, you still need to be tested even if you have had your Covid vaccination. 

Please keep on helping to keep you and others safe in Manchester. 

For more information about Covid testing.

131,357 people registered at GP practices in Manchester had their first dose of the Covid vaccine as of 1 March 2020. Thank you to everyone who has had their jab so far. 

More information about the Covid vaccine.

Expanded Additional Restrictions Grants 

We have expanded the discretionary Additional Restrictions Grant to help businesses whose trade has been significantly affected by the absence of workers, commuters and tourists in the city due to the lockdown restrictions.   

The Expanded Additional Restrictions Grant scheme (EARG) has been designed to support Manchester businesses we know have seen a big drop in trade, but who have been ineligible for other Government grant schemes. 

The main scheme will support local businesses with Business Rates liability or fixed property costs affected by the downturn in daytime economy trade, the tourism and cultural sectors, and the airport supply chain. Some self-employed sole traders and company directors of small businesses, without fixed business property, related costs may also be eligible. 

If your business has been affected and you haven’t already received a Local Restriction Support Grant, a previous Additional Restrictions Grant payment or other Government support such as the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, you may be eligible.   

Check eligibility and find out more at www.manchester.gov.uk/EARG