Residents across Andover are having trouble booking coronavirus tests within the local area.

Our readers have reported having to travel hundreds of miles to get tests for themselves and their sick family members.

But what is the government’s advice on travelling to get a test?

The Advertiser asked the Department for Health and Social Care what their advice would be to worried families if no home or local tests are available.

This is what they said:

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:

“NHS Test and Trace is working, our capacity is the highest it has ever been and but we are seeing a significant demand for tests. New booking slots and home testing kits are made available daily for people with symptoms and we are targeting testing capacity at the areas that need it most, including those where there is an outbreak, and prioritising at-risk groups.

“Our laboratories are processing more than a million tests a week and we recently announced new facilities and technology to process results even faster. If you do not have symptoms and are not eligible to get a test you can continue to protect yourself if you wash your hands, wear a face covering and follow social distancing rules.”

They added that improvements are being made to the system of allocating regional testing slots to ensure the distance limit does not go beyond 75 miles.

According to internal test and trace research the Department has estimated that approximately 25 per cent of people booking a test are not eligible, which is putting pressure on the service.

Booking slots are made available the evening before for morning appointments and on the morning for afternoon appointments so it’s likely the best time to try and get a test early morning and early evening rather than midday.