HAMPSHIRE residents have been urged to get tested as free Covid tests will be available across the county from this week.

All residents in Hampshire will have access to rapid lateral flow tests from April 9.

The move aims to identify asymptomatic people and  stop the spread of Coronavirus.

From Friday residents will be able to collect testing kits from testing centres across the county or to order them online.

Peope will be able to collect their tests twice a week and will be asked to record the test results.

County bosses have also confirmed that they are looking to roll-out pharmacy collection in Hampshire over the coming weeks.

Simon Bryant, the director of public health at Hampshire County Council, 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.

"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."

Those who test positive will be asked to self-isolate and book a PCR test.

Dr 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.

Residents can collect testing kits at the following sites in the afternoon:

Aldershot – Parsons Barracks car park

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

Fareham – Cams Alders car park

Gosport – Walpole Park car park

Havant – Havant Civic Centre car park

Winchester – Worthy Lane car park

Andover – Shepherds Spring Lane car park

Ringwood – The Furlong car park

It comes as 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.