More than 500 pharmacies in Hampshire now offer free rapid Covid tests

In a bid to 'reduce the spread of infection' more than 30 city pharmacies and 515 pharmacies in Hampshire are offering community access to lateral flow tests for the first time.

All will be providing free home test kits and around half will administer on-site testing.

Director of public health at Portsmouth City Council, Helen Atkinson said: 'Working with our pharmacy partners, we've made it as easy as we can to enable everyone to get involved in testing when you don’t have symptoms.

'This type of testing helps identify the one in three people who become infected but show no symptoms. The more people who get tested regularly, the greater our ability becomes to reduce the spread of infection.'

It comes after the city's asymptomatic test centre was moved from the Guildhall to the Somers Town hub this month.

Ms Atkinson added: 'You only need to test twice-weekly when you don’t have symptoms, so picking a time and place that suits you, couldn't be easier.

'The first time you collect home test kits, staff will be able to show you how to use them and how to record and upload your results; there is additional information in the test packs to help with this.

'Regular testing will help us monitor where the infection is spreading and how fast in the community. And for anyone who can’t get to any of our collection sites, home test kits can be ordered by post.'

As part of the system, residents are expected to record their results each time they are tested.

SEE ALSO: More than 100,000 people receive at least first Covid jab in the city

'I'm confident the people of Portsmouth will continue to show the community spirit we've seen throughout the pandemic and really get behind asymptomatic testing,' Ms Atkinson said.

'Getting into the habit and also remembering to record the results – test, record, repeat – will make a tangible difference to managing the pandemic; it's another straight forward habit we can all adopt, in the same way we've all got used to washing hands more regularly and wearing face coverings.'

From May 1 the existing Portsmouth coronavirus test sites at Eldon Road and North Harbour Road, which had provided home testing kits, will revert to providing on-site pre-booked tests only for people with symptoms.

And on April 30 the testing centre at Fareham College will close, with residents able to get tests from pharmacies instead.

For a supervised asymptomatic tests at a testing venue you will need to book an appointment online.

To find out where your nearest test site is visit maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk.

Tests at pharmacies should only be booked by people aged 16 and over.

Secondary age children should continue to get their tests via their schools.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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