A LIST of Hampshire venues that could be turned into Covid testing centres has been unveiled – including Alton Sports Centre.

Hampshire residents could have access to rapid Covid tests as early as next Monday, it has been revealed.

The government is currently considering a bid for the roll out of a six-week mass testing programme across Hampshire.

County bosses said the plans are yet to be approved. But a list of the proposed testing sites has now been revealed.

According to the county council, testing sites could be set up at South Ham Library in Basingstoke; Alton Sports Centre; The Point in Eastleigh; Fareham College; Thorngate Hall Community Centre in Gosport; Hart District Council offices; Havant Library; Totton Health and Leisure Centre; Picket Twenty Sports Ground near Andover ; Winchester Discovery Centre and Farnborough Leisure Centre.

The appointment-only scheme will be aimed at residents who have to leave home for work and who are not covered by existing workplace testing schemes.

It would include those who work in supermarkets, childminders, transport and construction workers as well as volunteers and primary school teachers.

They would all have access to lateral flow tests.

The move aims to identify asymptomatic people in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

According to Hampshire County Council, tests will have to be booked online 24 hours in advance.

Residents will be invited to get tested every three to five days throughout the six-week programme.

Those who test positive will be asked to self-isolate.

The list was revealed during a meeting of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board held on Tuesday morning.

Simon Bryant, the director of public health for Hampshire, said the move will help break the chain of infection.

He said: “We are really excited that the programme is there. We are waiting for that approval. We know that a third of the population would have coronavirus without knowing it. That really would help us understand that asymptomatic population.”