From Monday 26 April, Hampshire residents without symptoms can access free supervised testing, or collect kits to self-test at home, from participating pharmacies across the county.
The County Council’s Director of Public Health, Simon Bryant, said: “Regular, twice weekly testing is encouraged for everyone without symptoms, to help us identify more positive cases and break chains of transmission – helping us to get back to a more normal way of life. Rapid testing on a regular basis gives us all peace of mind that we are not putting our family, friends, co-workers or communities at risk, and pharmacies offer a quick and convenient means of getting a test or collecting a kit to self-test at home. Make test-record-repeat part of your weekly routine to help suppress the spread of the virus and protect the people around you.
“I would remind everyone that a positive result from a lateral flow test means you must follow self-isolation guidance and book a follow-up PCR test as soon as possible. If you have a negative result from a lateral flow test, you must still follow ‘hands, face, space’ guidance. Alongside the COVID vaccine, these basic behaviours and regular testing are the most effective ways of keeping infection rates down and getting us safely on the road to a summer of freedoms.”
In Hampshire, over 200 pharmacies are providing the national collect scheme. From Monday 26 April, over 40 of these pharmacies will also be offering on-site supervised lateral flow testing. This is a drop-in service but anyone wishing to have a supervised test is advised to phone ahead where possible, to enable pharmacy staff to schedule appointments and reduce waiting times.
Until Friday 30 April, community testing sites for those without symptoms, are continuing to offer supervised lateral flow testing, as well as test kit collection. These sites will continue to operate while the pharmacy scheme is being established and will be closed from 1 May. Information about community testing sites is available on the County Council’s website.
Hampshire’s symptomatic testing sites will continue to offer test kit collection for people without symptoms from 2.30pm to 8pm, alongside the pharmacy scheme.
Lateral flow testing and the test kit collection scheme are for people without symptoms. Anyone with symptoms of coronavirus must book a PCR test or call 119.
Collecting kits from a pharmacy for testing at home:
- Anyone over the age of 18 can collect test kits from participating pharmacies for themselves and their families to use at home.
- You can collect 1 pack per person of 7 lateral flow device tests.
- There is no need to book an appointment.
- Testing should be done twice a week. It is important to record the result.
- Step-by-step instructions are included with the test kit. A video demonstration and alternative language versions are available online. You can also call 119 and request a translation service.
Getting a supervised test at a pharmacy:
- Anyone over the age of 12 can drop-in to a participating pharmacy for a supervised lateral flow device test. If you are aged between 12 and 15 years old you will need to attend with a parent or guardian.
- This is a drop-in service, however you are encouraged to call the pharmacy in advance of your visit to book an appointment where possible.
- There is a short registration process. Please remember to bring your mobile phone, as well as glasses or any other visual aid you will need to complete this.
- The test involves a swab of the throat and nose.
- Results will be provided via text.
- Testing should be done twice a week.
