The reason why Sheffield will not be getting any mass Covid-19 testing

NHS Test and Trace is sending out 600,000 lateral flow tests which can provide results within an hour without needing to be processed in a lab.

Test kits will be issued to more than 50 directors of public health across England so they can deliver community testing based on their local knowledge but Sheffield Council has not signed up.

In a council statement, director of public health Greg Fell said: “We are aware of the places on the government’s list who are going to be part of the Covid mass testing approach and we are awaiting more information from the government about what this might mean Sheffield.”

He elaborated more on his personal twitter feed, saying: "We are interested, but the Liverpool pilot is a pilot and we perhaps ought to learn from that.

"There's a lot of interest in use of these tests in other spaces, this is being worked through at speed.

"There are some sci [scientific] uncertainties, some operational difficulties, a lot of logistic challenges, and some issues on how the use of testing affects behaviour. All being considered at great speed."

Each director of public health who has signed up will receive a batch of 10,000 devices. A weekly allocation of tests will then follow.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.