HERE are the local test sites in Hampshire where you can get Covid testing kits.

Following the government’s announcement that free rapid tests will be offered to everyone in England from Friday (April 9), Hampshire residents are being urged to start collecting their test kits from that date and get into the habit of regular testing and recording their result.

From Friday anyone can access free, rapid lateral flow tests for themselves and their families to use twice a week. Kits can be collected from testing sites across the county.

Where to get a lateral flow device (LFD) test kit

  • Community testing sites (enter your postcode in the NHS site map to find your nearest site and opening times). To take a supervised LFD test at a community testing site, drop in on the day or book an appointment online. You must not go to these sites if you have any symptoms.
  • Regional Testing Site at Southampton Airport
  • Walk-through Local Testing Sites (afternoons only). These sites offer symptomatic testing during the morning and, following a deep clean, are open again in the afternoon for collection of test kits for people without symptoms.

1. Ringwood – The Furlong car park

2. Basingstoke – Churchill Way long stay car park – due to open from 11 April

3. Fareham – Cams Alders car park

4. Gosport – Walpole Park car park

5. Havant – Havant Civic Centre car park

6. Winchester – Worthy Lane car park

7. Andover – Shepherds Spring Lane car park

8. Aldershot – Parsons Barracks car park

'Continue to exercise caution'

Hampshire County Council’s director of public health Simon Bryant said: “As we see the number of positive cases decline, it’s tempting to think that Covid may soon be a thing of the past, but the virus transmits so easily from person to person, and if we do not continue to exercise caution and do all we can to minimise spread, we may have to live with some form of restrictions for the foreseeable future.

“Don’t forget that one in three people may have the virus but not experience any symptoms, so alongside the Covid-19 vaccine and following ‘hands, face, space’, regular testing will continue to be essential to preventing further spread, helping us to get back to a normal way of life.

“I am therefore urging Hampshire residents to take up the offer of free, regular testing – and make Test-Record-Repeat a part of your weekly routine.”

Residents may also be eligible for regular asymptomatic testing through their workplace.

The county council is continuing to work with the Department of Health and Social Care to roll-out pharmacy collection in Hampshire over the coming weeks.

What to do after the test

  • Record your result online or by phone. Instructions on how to do this are included in the test kit.
  • If the result is positive, you and your household must self-isolate and you must book a confirmatory PCR test.
  • If the test is negative, continue to follow preventative measures for stopping the spread of the virus, including ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’.

Record test results

Simon Bryant added: “I would remind everyone who is testing regularly at home that it is very important to record your test result. Secondary school pupils and college students should continue to test regularly throughout the holidays, and should take a test the day before or morning of the first day of summer term, before returning to education.”

Children of primary school age or younger are not being asked to test regularly.

Any adult or child with symptoms of Covid-19 should get a test: book a test online or call 119.

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