As Covid cases continue to rise sharply in Gloucestershire, the county council is urging residents to get their twice-weekly rapid Covid tests if they don't have symptoms.

Around one in three people who have Covid-19 have no symptoms at all. Rapid tests help to detect the virus in people who might not know they have it, so they can self- isolate quickly to prevent passing Covid on to family, friends and colleagues.

Since the Government first announced that rapid testing was available to everyone in England, the way you can get your free test kit in the county has changed to make it even easier to access.

Here is how you can get yours:

• Pharmacy Collect - There are more than 100 pharmacies countywide that have rapid testing kits in-store for people to collect and use at home

• On-site pharmacy testing - Some local pharmacies offer on-site testing for people who haven't yet used a rapid flow test, or residents who would like some support and guidance to take the test. (For a full list of which pharmacies you can collect your kit from or where you can get support to take your test on-site visit: NHS Site Finder Map.)

• Community Collect - You can pick up your rapid test kit from Hempsted Meadows, Cheltenham High Street Car Park and Stratford Park Leisure Centre testing centres. Collection is available Monday-Sunday 2.30-8pm at Gloucester and Cheltenham and Monday-Sunday 1.30-7pm in Stroud. You can check online if the location is open or busy before you go.

• Library Collect in Gloucester City - There are five libraries in Gloucester that have kits available for collection - Gloucester City Centre, Hucclecote, Churchdown, Longlevens and Quedgeley. You should check the library opening hours online first.

Sarah Scott, executive director of adult social care and public health at Gloucestershire County Council, said: "Thankfully, the number of Gloucestershire residents becoming seriously ill from Covid is now much lower, but as we start to mix more, the number of infections is rising sharply, particularly in our county's schools and across Gloucestershire businesses.

"Every time the virus passes from person to person, it has another opportunity to mutate into new variants such as Delta - which we know spreads more easily. Rapid testing alongside getting both doses of the Covid-19 vaccination; continuing to follow the rules around hands, face, space and fresh air; and self-isolating and getting a PCR test if you have symptoms will help us to slow the spread of infection."

There is more information about Covid testing in the county on the dedicated webpages: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/testing.