A TARGETED two-week community testing programme will take place in a number of postcodes across the Hart district, Rushmoor borough and Surrey border after confirmation of a "small number" of cases of the Indian Covid-19 variant locally, Hampshire County Council has said.

Anyone living or working in the GU11 and GU12 (Aldershot), and GU51 and GU52 (Fleet) postcodes without symptoms of Covid-19 over the age of 12, will be able to book a PCR test at one of four mobile testing units specially stationed in the area from Wednesday, May 26 to Wednesday, June 9.

The following testing units will be open from 8am to 8pm, every day:

Hart District Council car park, Fleet – GU51 4AE

Napier Gardens, Farnborough - GU11 2JH

High Street multi-story car park, Wellington Avenue, Aldershot – GU11 1SD

In addition, a testing site at Blackwater and Hawley Leisure Centre, Camberley (GU17 9BW), is open from 8am to 6pm every day.

Children aged 12-15 must be accompanied by a parent or carer.

Those taking part will be notified of their result – whether positive or negative for coronavirus – in the usual way, by NHS Test and Trace. All positive results will be sent for further analysis and genome-sequencing to determine which strain of the virus they may have.

Residents can find out more and book a test on the county council’s website at: www.hants.gov.uk/HartRushmoor-testing

Anyone with symptoms of coronavirus should not take part in this initiative but continue to attend their local testing site.

Simon Bryant, director of public health at Hampshire County Council, said: “It’s important to stress that the number of cases of this particular variant in the north east of the county are low – and that those identified to date, have isolated appropriately, with their contacts traced and testing offered.

“Working closely with Public Health England, we are adopting a highly precautionary approach in Hampshire, acting fast to address outbreaks before they have a chance to spread.

“While we know this particular variant transmits quickly, and people may be worried, the good news is that there is currently nothing to suggest that people experience more severe illness as a consequence, or that the vaccines are any less effective against it.

“There is also much we can do to protect ourselves against all variants of Covid-19 – following the ‘hands-face-space-and let in fresh air’ guidance, making ‘test-record-repeat’ part of our weekly routine and getting vaccinated when it’s our turn.

“We are all enjoying the new freedoms, but we must remain cautious, and taking this action early, before the number of cases grows, is the right thing to do and one of the best ways to continue to protect our local population.”