Coronavirus (COVID-19): testing

Find out who is eligible for COVID-19 tests, how to access tests and what to do if your result is positive.

Testing for COVID-19

If you develop symptoms, you should follow guidance for people with symptoms of respiratory infections including COVID-19.

Most people do not need to do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if you have symptoms.

COVID-19 testing is only recommended if you have a health condition which means you’re eligible for COVID-19 treatment and to support clinical care.

Only those groups are eligible for free tests.

How to get lateral flow tests

You may be able to get a free test from a pharmacy if you are eligible for COVID-19 treatments.

Free lateral flow tests are not available to order online or by phone.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should not collect tests from a pharmacy yourself.

You should ask someone who does not have symptoms to collect the lateral flow tests on your behalf.

If you want to get tested but are not eligible for free rapid lateral flow tests, you need to pay for the test yourself.

You can buy rapid lateral flow tests from some pharmacies and retailers, in person or online.

If you work in health and social care

If you work in health and social care, you may still be able to get free lateral flow tests from your employer if you are eligible for COVID-19 treatments.

Reporting your lateral flow test results

If you have one of the conditions that puts you at the very highest risk of illness should you catch COVID-19, you need to report the result if it is positive, to be assessed for a COVID-19 treatment.

You should report your positive COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result at:

Report a HSC NI COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result

You need to report your positive result and include your postcode and a phone number, to be assessed for a COVID-19 treatment.

If you are not able to report your test result online

If you cannot use the online service to report a test result, contact your GP or GP Out of Hours who can contact your Trust on your behalf.

Void result

If the test result is void, this means that the test has not run correctly. If you are eligible, you should take another lateral flow test. Do not reuse anything from the first test.

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What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit. Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

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Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

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If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

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For queries about your GRONI account, email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme, email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

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For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

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If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

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