MORE than 150,000 people in Cumbria have now had the coronavirus vaccine, according to the county's director of public heath.

Colin Cox has praised the ‘phenomenal’ effort of the county’s vaccine roll-out.

“The vaccination programme is going well," he said.

"There is more than 150,000 people who have had the vaccine, which is around 40 per cent of the adult population, which is just remarkable.

“It’s an incredible pace, it’s absolutely phenomenal work by the NHS in a short space of time.”

Meanwhile, essential workers who cannot work from home now have more ways to access regular Covid-19 Rapid Result Lateral Flow testing with eleven testing sites now open in Cumbria.

This week, six sites have been been opened in Barrow (Furness Academy), Dalton (Dowdales School), Milnthorpe, Sedbergh, Workington and Whitehaven.

Lateral Flow tests give a result in 30 minutes and help identify asymptomatic carriers, people who do have COVID-19 and are infectious but are not ill.

These people can then self-isolate to protect others.

The testing sites are open to any essential workers who cannot work from home and come into regular contact with other people through their job, and who do not have Covid-19 symptoms.

The tests are free and no booking is required, but please note the sites are only open at the times stated.

Mr Cox said: “Mass Lateral Flow Testing of those without symptoms is a key part of the strategy for preventing the spread of Covid and getting us out of lockdown.

“With these additional six sites announced this week, we now have eleven sites up and running.

"People who want to access rapid testing have a range of options to choose from. It’s quick and simple and gives people the reassurance that they are not unwittingly infecting other people as they go about their work.”