Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage, has welcomed the news that a new asymptomatic testing centre has opened at the Gosport Community Association, Thorngate Hall on Bury Road in Gosport.
The testing centre is available for all critical workers and those who cannot work from home, to access a lateral flow test even if they do not have COVID-19 symptoms. You must be over the age of 16 to book the appointment, not have COVID-19 symptoms and not currently isolating having been contacted by NHS Track and Trace.
The testing centre is 1 of 11 in Hampshire, including at Fareham College, which are opening this week. The aim of the lateral flow tests, which can produce results in 30 minutes, is to tackle community transmission and catch COVID-19 cases when a resident might not know that have contracted the virus, and are at risk of passing it on. Evidence shows that 1 in 3 people do not show symptoms of COVID-19.
Caroline commented:
“While we have seen infection rates falling across the Gosport Constituency and Hampshire, we need to remain vigilant to ensure this trend continues.
“Catching asymptomatic cases is vital to reducing transmission across the community, ensuring that those who have COVID-19, but would not otherwise know it, do not unwittingly pass the virus to others around them. This is vital for critical workers who currently cannot work from home, and are at greater risk of transmitting the virus.”
Gosport Borough Council are looking for volunteers to help steward and help conduct tests at the new site. Residents can apply on the Gosport Borough Council website.
If residents are showing symptoms of COVID-19, they should not attend the test centre at Thorngate Hall but book a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test through the NHS in the first 8 days of having symptoms.