Today marks the first day of a trial of a new rapid coronavirus test which could speed up the time it takes to get a test result, helping us to control the virus and save lives.
- The trial of a new, rapid coronavirus test that does not need to be sent to a laboratory to be processed will begin in Hampshire today, with results being returned in just 20 minutes.
- Up to 4,000 people of all ages and backgrounds will participate in the pilot, which will run for up to six weeks. It will be led by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust, and trained health professionals will take a swab and process the results on-site.
- This new test could provide accurate results almost on the spot, enabling health and care workers to carry on with their shift or to immediately isolate if they test positive. This could change the way that we control Covid-19 across the country, getting those with negative results back into society as quickly as possible.
This is good news and demonstrates how the government is concentrating on the next phase of recovery making sure our country remains safe in the long-term as we continue to tackle the coronavirus.