COVID-19 testing in Haringey

• If you have symptoms
• If you do NOT have symptoms
• Fit-to-fly PCR testing
• What happens if I test positive for COVID-19?
• If you test negative for COVID-19
• Further information

We know that variants of COVID-19 are airborne and spread from person to person, and we have a greater chance of picking it up the closer we are to someone.

Regular testing helps reduce the spread of the virus within our communities.

Tests are quick, painless and free for everyone.

There are 2 different types of COVID-19 tests available to you:

• PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests for people who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (symptomatic). This test is sent to a laboratory to get results.
• Rapid testing or LFD (Lateral Flow Device) tests for people who are NOT experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (asymptomatic). Swabs are not sent to the laboratory and results are determined at the site or by following instructions in your home test kit.

If you have symptoms then you should book a PCR test straight away and you will be advised where your nearest testing centre is.

If you don’t have any symptoms then you can get tested at Haringey’s walk-in Rapid Test centre at Tottenham Green Pools and Fitness Leisure Centre (without an appointment) or pick up a home test kit. 

These NHS tests are NOT for individuals who need a Fit-to-fly test.

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If you have symptoms

You must get a free test if you have any of the following symptoms no matter how mild you think your symptoms are:

• a high temperature
• a new continuous cough
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.

COVID-19 Delta variant symptoms

Symptoms for the now dominant strain of COVID-19, the Delta variant (first originated in India), can include headaches, sore throat and a runny nose. These symptoms can often be mistaken for a milder illness.

If you have symptoms, you and everyone you live with must immediately self-isolate (external site). Do not leave home until you get your test results, except to post a test kit or for a PCR test appointment.

Booking a test

The test is free and easy to book.

• Appointments can be made online (external link) or by calling 119. Lines are open 7am to 11pm.
• The test centres operate PCR testing between 8am and 8pm
• Tests are pain-free and typically take less than a minute
• When you go for a test, cells will be collected from the back of your mouth and up your nose - these will be sent off for analysis
• Results from tests taken at test sites are received the next day
• You should remain isolated while you wait for your test results

PCR test sites in Haringey

They will give you an appointment at your nearest test centre. There are currently 2 PCR test sites in Haringey:

• Haringey Irish Centre Car Park, Pretoria Road, N17 8DX
  Opening times: Monday to Friday - PCR Testing: 8am- 8pm
  No parking available on site, so you must either arrive by foot or bike.
  Find the Irish Centre testing site on Google Maps (external link)
   
• Stamford Hill Primary School, Berkeley Road, N15 6HD
  Opening times: Monday to Friday - PCR Testing: 8am- 8pm
  No parking available on site, so you must either arrive by foot or bike.
  Find the Stamford Hill primary school testing site on Google Maps (external link)

You can also attend test sites in nearby boroughs. Home test kits are available for anyone who can not access availble test sites.

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If you do NOT have symptoms

COVID-19 rapid Lateral Flow testing in Haringey

Around 1 in 3 people who have the coronavirus show no symptoms, but they can still pass it on to others, who may become seriously ill.

Everyone in England (aged 11 years and over) can access free, regular, rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) testing twice a week.

People are encouraged to take regular tests to help prevent outbreaks and help us all get back to a more normal way of life, as restrictions ease in line with the government's roadmap out of lockdown.

• Find out more on GOV.UK: twice weekly rapid testing to be available to everyone in England (external link)

Testing is not required for children aged 11 and under (primary school-aged). If you are concerned that your child may have COVID-19, or if you have symptoms, please book a test by calling NHS 119 or online:

• Book a free NHS test if you have symptoms - GOV.UK (external link)

Home testing kits

These are Lateral Flow Device test kits that you can do yourself at home and are widely available across Haringey. Each test kit contains 7 tests and you can collect up to 2 test kits for yourself and members of your household if you are 16 years old or over and not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.

You can collect test kits from:

• Tottenham Green Pools and Fitness Leisure Centre (see details below) 
• many pharmacies across Haringey participating in the Community Pharmacy Lateral Flow Distribution service
• libraries across the borough

Find your nearest collection point (external link).

You can also access testing:

• from our teams of public engagement officers, out and about in the community.
• on-site at secondary schools and colleges 
• through workplace testing programmes, on-site or at home if provided by employers
• by ordering a home test kit online (external link)

Changes to the home test collection service from pharmacies

From 4 October 2021, a number of changes are being made to the service at pharmacies. The changes are being made to increase traceability of test kits and to continue to assist NHS Test and Trace to identify COVID-positive cases in the community and break the chain of transmission. 

The changes to the service will apply from 4 October 2021 and they include:

• A reduction in the number of packs of test kits you can collect from pharmacies from 4 to 2.
• Residents will need to register for a collect code through gov.uk/get-collect-code (external link) or by calling 119 before collecting home test kits from a pharmacy;
• If residents do not wish to register for a collect code, you can request an anonymous collection, but you should use collect codes wherever possible;
• Information on the test kit lot number and the number of test kits supplied will be recorded and reported for each transaction
• The minimum recommended age for a person to collect LFD test kits will be reduced to 16 years old.

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COVID-19 rapid Lateral Flow test centre

Haringey has a dedicated rapid Lateral Flow COVID-19 test site at Tottenham Green Pools and Fitness Leisure Centre, for people who are not showing any signs of having the virus (asymptomatic). The centre operates on a walk-in basis. You do not need to have an appointment.

• Address: Tottenham Green Pools and Fitness Leisure Centre, 1 Philip Lane, N15 4JA - see on the map (external link)
• Opening times: Monday to Sunday 9am - 5pm
• Parking is available. Fees may apply. 

It should take no more than half an hour for registration and the swab to be taken, and you should know the result within an hour or so.

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Fit-to-fly testing

Free NHS testing is for individuals with symptoms or who have been advised to take a test by a medical practitioner or a public agency.

Individuals who do not fall into these categories and require a test for other reasons, such as fit-to-fly, can contact providers for general COVID-19 testing (external link) to book a private coronavirus test at their own expense.

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What happens if I test positive for COVID-19?

If you test positive for the virus you must self-isolate for at least 10 days from when your symptoms started.

Members of your household must also complete 10 days of self-isolation from when you first showed symptoms.

You must self-isolate for the whole period even if you feel better.

More information on the NHS website:

• How long you need to self-isolate for (external link)
• If you're told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app (external link)

Self-Isolation Support Scheme

If you can’t work from home and will lose money by self-isolating, you may be eligible for a £500 payment as part of a Self-Isolation Support Scheme. For more information or to apply, email connectedcommunities@haringey.gov.uk or call 020 8489 4431.

If you have been told to self-isolate and do not you could face a fine. It is also illegal for your employer to order you back to work. Both employers and workers could face a fine of £1,000 for their first offence, rising to £10,000 for repeated infringements.

Given the risks of exposure to different people with COVID-19, you could be asked to isolate on more than one occasion.

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If you test negative for COVID-19

If the test comes back negative, you and other members of your household no longer need to self-isolate.

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Further information

See also:

• How to protect yourself and others
• Vaccines and vaccinations

Links to NHS and GOV.UK

NHS:

• Advice on how to avoid spreading coronavirus to people you live with - NHS website (external link)
• Check your symptoms - NHS 111 online (external link)
• NHS 111 online (external link)

GOV.UK:

• Guidance on coronavirus testing, including who is eligible for a test and how to get tested (external link)

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