Families with children returning to school are being asked to get tested for Covid-19 at home to limit the spread of the virus.

Watford Borough Council is reminding students and parents that regular home coronavirus testing kits are available for free for all households with primary, secondary and college age students.

The rapid tests – which can identify positive cases within 30 minutes – can be used to help prevent a potential outbreak in schools.

Around one in three people who test positive for Covid-19 are asymptomatic, meaning that more cases could spread without a test.

Between May 23 and May 30 in Watford, the main cluster of positive Covid-19 cases in Watford were identified from children aged five to ten.

Around the same period from May 28 to June 1, there were a few cases identified from children aged 10 to 14.

In Watford between May 23 and June 1, there were 93 positive cases identified from all age groups.

Read more: Primary school pupils self-isolating as area sees Covid spike

Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor said “We’re working closely with all schools in the town and I would urge encourage all eligible households to take up the offer of twice weekly rapid testing to help keep schools safe.

“We know as many as 1 in 3 people testing positive for Covid-19 don’t show symptoms, so targeted, regular testing means more positive cases are kept out of schools and colleges. Please remember though that these tests don’t pick up all positive cases unfortunately and so regardless of a negative test result you still need to continue to follow the rules, wear a mask, keep your distance and meet outside wherever possible.”

To order a lateral flow test, visit: www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests