New coronavirus testing site for North Portsmouth

As part of the work to improve the accessibility of coronavirus testing for local communities, a new coronavirus testing facility opened on 6 November at Northarbour Road in Cosham. The site will operate 7 days a week, from 8am to 8pm.

Tests at the new site are only available by booking online at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. Anyone with coronavirus symptoms should book a test immediately. Tests are free, are relatively painless and take less than a minute, but are crucial in helping to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Car parking is available for around 40 vehicles at a time – those with coronavirus symptoms should NOT travel on public transport to attend test appointments.

Tests at the Northarbour Road site will take place indoors. All visitors will enter the building for their test appointment – being guided to the entrance, testing area, and exit via a planned and signposted route. Test visits should take no longer than 10 minutes in total.

Anyone testing positive for the virus in England will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace to help them track their contacts. This will help people to identify who they may have been in close contact with, protecting others from further transmission.

Close contacts of those testing positive will also hear from NHS Test and Trace, advising them to stay at home for 14 days to prevent them from unknowingly spreading the virus. They will be advised to also book a test if they develop symptoms.

Making sure everyone who has coronavirus symptoms or has been contacted by NHS Test and Trace self-isolates is vital to help stop the spread of coronavirus and protect the most vulnerable. Downloading the NHS Covid-19 app can help trace contacts, help you check symptoms, alert you quickly to a positive test result and more.