Businesses in Staffordshire with 200 employees or more are being urged to take part in a rapid Covid-19 testing programme being rolled out across the county from today.

Staffordshire County Council is one of 66 councils in the first phase of the roll out the national programme, which tests people without Covid-19 symptoms.

By signing up, the council says that businesses will help to protect their employees, avoid local outbreaks and ensure business continuity.

The tests are available now and support will be offered to businesses to develop a regular programme of testing for employees.

All testing equipment and PPE will be provided, but businesses must be able to provide suitable spacious areas for testing.

Test results are available in around 30 minutes and are captured on a dedicated app for sites to submit into the national testing platform. They will also trigger NHS contact tracing for those who test positive.

Any interested businesses should click here.

Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for health, care and wellbeing Johnny McMahon said: "Rapid testing is a critical part of our efforts to reduce the infection rate of coronavirus in our communities. We all have a part to play in fighting the virus as we work towards the easing of restrictions in the coming months.

"We know that places of work, even with safety measures in place, are locations where the virus is transmitted. That's why we're asking our larger businesses to join our programme and do their bit for their employees, their communities and their own productivity and operational continuity.

"It's fantastic news that we're looking forward to a vaccine roll-out, but right now it is vital that together we are doing all we can to significantly limit the spread of the virus. And it remains essential for us all to continue to follow the hands, face, space guidance."