By increasing testing to find those who have no symptoms, positive cases will be identified more quickly.
This will in turn break chains of transmission.
People are most infectious in the first two days before developing symptoms, if they are symptomatic, as well as for a few days afterwards.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I am really pleased to announce the first areas embarking on enhanced community testing programmes – after the successful work in Liverpool.
“With one in three people with coronavirus showing no symptoms, increased community testing is a vital additional tool at our disposal to help identify those who are infected and infectious, but unaware that they might be spreading the disease.
