Free Covid tests: Where can I collect free lateral flow tests in Portsmouth? Are they available today? How many free lateral flow tests can I get? When will free Covid tests end?

Believed to be the first of its kind in the country, the scheme, which is expected to cost between £316,000 and £365,000, will see every city household eligible for five lateral flow tests a month until the end of June.

Nine collection points will be set up across the city to distribute 30,000 tests.

'We need to support residents in following the safer behaviours we've all come to know well during the pandemic - that includes testing,' council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson said. 'We want people to be able to continue testing to help reduce the spread and protect our community, particularly those who are at higher risk of getting seriously ill.'

The launch of the scheme comes amid rising infection rates and hospital admissions in the city.

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'Cases in Portsmouth are rapidly rising and we want to ensure people are not put off taking tests due to the cost of buying them,' director of public health Helen Atkinson said.

Tests can be collected from Alderman Lacey Library, Beddow Library, Charles Dickens Activity Centre, Cosham Community Centre, North End Library, Paulsgrove Community Centre, Southsea Library, Portsmouth Civic Offices and Somerstown Central.

A delivery service will also be offered for people unable to travel to a collection point due to disability by calling 023 9260 6562 or emailing [email protected].

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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