Council staff with symptoms of Covid-19 will be able to get tested for the virus, the Government has announced.

Under plans to substantially increase testing capacity, the Government said all essential workers and their families in England will be able to get tested.

This includes local government staff critical to the effective delivery of the coronavirus response or delivering essential public services.

Employers will be able to register and refer self-isolating staff for testing, or employees will be able to book a test directly for themselves or members of their household if they have symptoms.

Secretary of state for health and social care, Matt Hancock, said: 'From today, employers of essential workers will be able to go on gov.uk to get a test for any of their staff who need a test. And from tomorrow, any essential workers who need a test will be able to book an appointment on gov.uk themselves directly.

'This all applies for people in essential workers’ households who need a test too. It’s all part of getting Britain back on her feet.'

will be rolled out, working alongside the drive-through test sites. A home delivery service - which ran out of tests just hours after being launched this morning - will also be available.