HEALTH bosses have promised that new quicker coronavirus tests will be rapidly expanded across Lancashire.

The new rapid-diagnosis Lateral Flow Test, which give results on site within the hour, will initially be available at a small number of test sites, including council-run day services.

The will be targeted first at specific key workers in health and social care and the emergency services.

But Lancashire Resilience Forum chair Angie Ridgwell promised that the tests will be quickly expanded to other groups of workers across the county.

The Lancashire Telegraph exclusively revealed the planned roll-out of the kits in Blackburn with Darwen and other East Lancashire boroughs earlier this month.

Once the initial phase has been completed, more services and locations will be added every week, including schools and identified coronavirus infection hotspots.

People who are eligible for a test will be contacted direct.

Ms Ridgwell said: “We aim to increase the number of these new tests in the coming weeks as the pilot develops. We’re targeting this pilot at certain groups, such as specific key workers in health and social care, and our emergency services.

“It’s really important that we maintain our essential services throughout the winter period; a time when they are under real pressure. By using these quick tests, we can keep this valuable workforce safe and be confident they can do their jobs without unwittingly passing the virus on to their customers or colleagues.

“Testing may also be offered at specific locations where the data shows high rates of infections.”