Coronavirus testing

Anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus should apply for the test straight away.

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

• a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.

If you or anyone you live with has any of these symptoms, you should stay at home and not have visitors until you get your test result – only leave your home to have a test.

Testing for those without symptoms

You may be unaware you have coronavirus if you are showing no symptoms. And you could, unknowingly, be passing it on to family, friends and loved ones. The more of us that get tested, the quicker we can stop the spread.

Across Essex tests are also being offered to anyone who wants one, even without symptoms.

For more information on testing please visit click on your local authority below.

• Essex County Council
• Southend Borough Council
• Thurrock Council