COVID-19 testing in Haringey
COVID-19 is spread from person to person - and we have a greater chance of picking it up the closer we are to someone.
Getting a test is one way of helping to reduce the spread of the virus within our communities.
Tests are quick, painless and free.
If you have symptoms then you should book a test straight away and you will be advised where your nearest testing centre is.
If you don’t have any symptoms then you can just walk into one of Haringey’s 2 lateral flow test sites with no appointment - see details below.
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.
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.
The test is free and easy to book.
- Appointments can be made online (external link) or by calling 119
- Tests are pain-free and typically take less than a minute
- Results from tests taken at test sites are received the next day
Lines are open 7am to 11pm.
They will give you an appointment at your nearest test centre. There are currently 4 test sites in Haringey:
- Alexandra Palace, Paddock Car Park, Hornsey Gate, Alexandra Palace Way, N8 7HP
Opening times: 7 days a week, 7am-9pm
Parking is available on site.
Find the Alexandra Palace testing site on Google Maps (external link) - Haringey Irish Centre Car Park, Pretoria Road, N17 8DX
Opening times: 7 days a week, 7am-9pm
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: 7 days a week, 7am-9pm
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) - New River Sport Centre car park, White Hart Lane, NR22 5QW
Opening times: 9am-3pm
Opening dates: Friday 8 January | Monday 11 January | Wednesday 13 January | Friday 15 January | Monday 18 January | Wednesday 20 January | Saturday 23 January | Monday 25 January | Thursday 28 January | Saturday 30 January
Parking is available on site.
Find the New River Sports Centre car park testing site on Google Maps (external link)
If you do NOT have symptoms
COVID-19 rapid testing sites in Haringey
Haringey has 2 rapid COVID-19 test sites for people who are NOT showing any signs of having the virus.
Around 1 in 3 people who have the coronavirus show no symptoms but they can still pass it on to others, who may not be so fortunate. By identifying those who have the infection, they will know they must stay at home and prevent transmission to others.
However, a single lateral flow test is not 100% accurate, it won’t pick up people who have only recently become infected for instance, so even if you test negative, you will still need to follow other public health guidance.
In fact, it is advised that essential or key workers should take repeat tests (once or twice a week) as this means we are more likely to pick up people with the infection and not miss them.
The centres are at the following locations:
- 48 Station Road, Wood Green, N22 7TY
- Tottenham Community Sports Centre, 701 – 703 High Road, N17 8AD
They are operational and 5 days a week and will be open as follows:
- Tuesday to Friday: 12pm-7pm
- Saturdays: 10am-5pm
- Sunday and Monday: closed.
See a map of these sites (including those from neighbouring boroughs).
Unfortunately, we cannot do tests for children aged 11 and under. If you are concerned that your child may have COVID-19 please book a test via NHS 119 or the government website (external link).
Please note that there is no parking at either site. The nearest car park to Station Road can be found at Morrisons, 50 Parkland Road, N22 6SU.
Until now, people have been advised to only book a test if they are showing one of the main symptoms.
If you have symptoms you must book a test by calling NHS 119 or by booking online:
Despite the national lockdown, you may still leave home to get a COVID-19 test, as well as for medical appointments and emergencies.
Map of rapid testing sites in and around Haringey
You can visit any of the walk-in test sites in London - you don't need to live in the borough. Do remember these are for people without symptoms only, and you need to be 12 years of age or older.
Click to view map of all testing sites in London
See also:
Questions you may have
- What happens at testing sites?
- I can’t risk getting a test because if it is positive and I have to self-isolate I will lose pay
- What do I do while I’m waiting for my test/results?
- My manager has told me I must go to work
- If you test positive for COVID-19
- My test was positive but now I feel fine
- If you test negative for COVID-19
- What happens if I do test positive?
- I feel fine, but NHS Test and Trace have told me I’ve been in contact with someone with COVID-19
- Do other people in my household also have to self-isolate?
- Will I only need to self-isolate once?
What happens at testing sites?
If you opt to have a test at a testing site, you will be given an appointment, there are lots of slots. There, you will have a swab (which is like a big cotton bud) in you the back of your mouth and up your nose. This collects the cells which are sent off for testing. The test results usually come back in 24 to 48 hours.
I can’t risk getting a test because if it is positive and I have to self-isolate I will lose pay
We know that many people on lower incomes will be worried about losing money if they test positive and are told to self-isolate. Don’t worry help is at hand. If you can’t work from home and will lose money 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.
What do I do while I’m waiting for my test/results?
While you wait to be tested and to get your results you should remain isolated.
Anyone else in your household should also self-isolate for 14 days from when you started having symptoms. Studies have shown people can have the virus for up to 2 weeks without symptoms.
Also tell people you've been in close contact with in the past 48 hours that you might have coronavirus.
My manager has told me I must go to work
You must tell your manager that you have been told to self-isolate or you could face a £50 fine. If you have been told to self-isolate your manager cannot order you into work. If they do it is a criminal offence and both employers and workers could face a fine of £1,000 for their first offence, rising to £10,000 for repeated infringements.
If you test positive for COVID-19
If you test positive for the virus you must continue to self-isolate for at least 10 days from when your symptoms started.
Members of your household must complete 14 days of self-isolation from when you first showed symptoms.
My test was positive but now I feel fine
Some people recover from COVID-19 after just a few days. However, that doesn’t mean that you still aren’t carrying the virus and can spread it to others. You must self-isolate for the whole period.
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.
What happens if I do test positive?
Within 24 hours of testing positive for COVID-19 you should be contacted regarding the NHS Test and Trace programme.
Information about the NHS Test and Trace programme is available on the NHS website (external link).
Tracing everyone who may have been in direct contact with someone with COVID-19 is an essential part of stopping the spread of the virus.
The text or email will contain instructions on how to share details of the people you have been in close, recent contact with.
This includes your family or other people you live with, as well as people you have been in direct contact with, or within 2 metres of, for more than 15 minutes.
You will also need to advise them of places you have recently visited.
The information you provide will be handed over via a secure website. If you don’t have internet access you will be called by one of the 25,000 contact tracers.
The service will be using a single phone number which is: 0300 013 5000.
The contact tracing team will use the information you provide to alert those most at risk of having the virus that they need to self-isolate. No one contacted as a result of you testing positive for coronavirus will be told your identity.
I feel fine, but NHS Test and Trace have told me I’ve been in contact with someone with COVID-19
Testing and tracing is key to combatting the spread of covid-19.
If you're told that you've been in contact with a person who has coronavirus you will need to self-isolate for 14 days from the day you were last in contact with the person.
Do not leave your home for any reason, if you need food or medicine, order it online or by phone, or ask friends and family to drop it off at your home.
Do other people in my household also have to self-isolate?
People you live with do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms.
However, if you live with someone at higher risk from coronavirus, try to arrange for them to stay with friends or family for 14 days while you are self-isolating.
If that is not possible, you can find advice on how to avoid spreading coronavirus to people you live with through the NHS website (external link).
If you subsequently feel you may be developing symptoms (external link), you should promptly get advice from the NHS 111 online coronavirus service (external link).
Will I only need to self-isolate once?
Not necessarily.
Given the risks of exposure to different people with COVID-19, you could be asked to isolate on more than one occasion.
Page last updated:
Haringey Together
Find out how you can help and what to do if you need support.
Haringey case numbers
Haringey People Extra
e-newsletter
Sign up for regular updates on COVID-19
