PLANS to deliver rapid Covid-19 tests across Southampton have moved a step closer.

Civic chiefs have confirmed they have submitted a bid to government for a mass testing programme to be rolled out across the city.

If approved, residents could have access to lateral flow tests by the end of this month.

The move aims to identify asymptomatic people in an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Last week Southampton City Council revealed it was working on a bid with Hampshire County Council and councils in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.

Yesterday, a city council spokesperson said: “An application for symptom-free community testing for COVID-19 has been submitted to the Government for review and we await their response.

"At this time, we have no further update on the rollout of symptom-free testing sites in Southampton.

"Residents with symptoms should continue to get a test via the online service or by calling 119.

"Thank you to all residents who continue to stay at home during this national lockdown.

"If you need to leave home, please continue to practice the Government’s Hands-Face-Space guidance.

"If you test positive or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app, you must self-isolate.

"These steps are helping to lower our cases in Southampton, protecting vulnerable residents and NHS staff, while the NHS vaccination programme continues at pace.

"Financial assistance is available to those who need to self-isolate.”

As reported, the details of the location of the new testing sites are yet to be revealed.

It is not yet clear who will have access to rapid tests if the bid is successful.

But last week the city council said the programme will make regular testing freely available for people without symptoms who need to leave home for work but are not covered by an existing workplace scheme.

The news comes as an extra 11 testing centres could be set up across the rest of Hampshire - one in each district.

Public Health England figures released last night revealed that 259 new positive cases were recorded in Hampshire over the last 24 hours.

Over the weekend, 486 people tested positive.

This brings the county’s total to 85,455 cases since the start of the pandemic.