Free rapid lateral flow tests are being offered to all Hart residents to protect our communities as we ease out of lockdown restrictions.
Anyone can visit the testing centre at the council offices in Fleet to collect testing kits for themselves and their families to use twice a week.
Two boxes, each containing seven tests, are available on each visit and people are encouraged to get into the habit of regular testing.
Staff will be on hand to talk through the process for anyone unsure how to use the kits.
The centre remains open for asymptomatic testing – residents can either book an appointment via the council’s website or just walk in.
Opening hours for on-site testing or to pick up kits:
Apex Centre, Council Offices, Harlington Road, Fleet
- Monday: 8am – 12pm, 2pm -5pm
- Tuesday: 9:15am – 4pm
- Wednesday: 9:15am – 4pm
- Thursday: 9:15am – 4pm
- Friday: 8am – 12pm, 2pm – 5pm
Kirsty Jenkins, Head of Community at Hart District Council, said: “Around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not experience any symptoms and may be spreading the virus unwittingly. Rapid testing detects cases quickly, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately. By making rapid tests available to everyone in Hart, more cases will be detected, breaking chains of transmission and saving lives.”
How the test works
A swab sample is taken from the nose and throat and gives a result in 30 minutes.
What to do after the test
- Record your result online or by phone. Instructions on how to do this are included in the test kit.
- If the result is positive, you and your household must self-isolate and you must book a confirmatory PCR test.
- If the test is negative, continue to follow preventative measures for stopping the spread of the virus, including ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’.
Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should book a test online or call 119.
