Aerial drone photos appear to show new Portsmouth coronavirus testing centre

Work is underway to prepare the site at the lorry park at Tipner West, with photos showing tents and cones being set up.

As reported by The News, Portsmouth is set to be one of 50 regional testing centres around the UK, which are likely to be unveiled by the government on Monday.

Testing is likely to be prioritised for NHS staff, care home workers and other key workers.

Sources previously told The News that the centre would be based at the lorry park, which is just off the M275.

The next nearest centre to Portsmouth is thought to be at Gatwick Airport.

A total of 15,464 patients have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, it was announced on Saturday April 18, up by 888 from the day before.

Cases in the Portsmouth City Council area stand at 222 as of Saturday, April 18 – up from 217 the day before.

The number of cases in Hampshire is 2,558 – although this cannot be broken down further into individual areas.

Sources claim that the new centre will be a quick turnaround, with it potentially opening as early as Wednesday.

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