Haringey coronavirus (COVID-19) updates

Haringey is set to expand rapid Lateral Flow Device (LTD) testing capacity, for those not showing any signs of having the virus, with the addition of a new site in Tottenham Green Leisure Centre opening on Monday 8 March. 

Residents across the borough have worked so hard to contain the spread of the virus and the addition of this new testing centre will only help as we look to contain the number of positive cases.

The new facility at Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, open between 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, will bring the total number of rapid testing centres across the borough to four and improve access to rapid testing for residents living in the east of the borough.

Opening hours for the four lateral flow test centres will be as follows:

Tottenham Green Leisure Centre: Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm
Wood Green: Monday – Friday, 11am to 7pm
Tottenham Community Sports Centre: Monday – Friday, 8am to 4pm
Alexandra Palace: Saturday – Wednesday 10am to 6pm

The new centre opens as schools return to face-to-face teaching on 8 March. In line with this, the Government is expanding twice-weekly LTD testing, to all households with primary, secondary and college age children and young people, including childcare and support bubbles. This is to help find more Covid-19 cases and break chains of transmission.  

Twice-weekly testing will also be offered to adults working in the wider school community, including bus drivers and after school club leaders.  As with student testing, this is encouraged but not mandatory.  

About one in three people with coronavirus do not have symptoms but can still pass it on to others. Regular testing can help stop this transmission. Hundreds of positive COVID-19 cases have already been detected using lateral flow testing in Haringey.  The tests are free, no appointment is needed, and you get a result 30 minutes after taking the test.

Find your nearest rapid test centre.

The expanded regular testing offer for people without symptoms will also be delivered through:   

• Testing in-person via workplace testing
• A new home ordering service, enabling people to order lateral flow tests online, to their home.
• A new collection service, starting with local PCR test site during specific test collection time windows.

Will Maimaris, Haringey’s Director of Public Health, said:

“Lateral flow testing is a crucial part of the country’s strategy to control the spread of COVID-19 as we emerge out of lockdown and the opening of our fourth walk-in lateral flow test centre is welcome news, particularly for those who live in the east of the borough. 

“One in three people who have Covid-19 don’t know they have it, but they can still pass it on to other people, who may fall very ill.

“Since the start of the current national lockdown, frontline and critical workers have been a priority for lateral flow testing, but as schools resume face to face learning, we now ask that school communities and families of pupils and staff also get tested. It is only through widespread testing and isolating positive cases that we can stop the spread of the virus and everyone must play their part.

“If you are a low-income worker who tests positive, there is up to £500 available from the self-isolation support payment to help.

“To date we have done 17,839 tests in total through our rapid testing centres, of which 286 have been positive. This is showing an overall positive rate of 1.6%. That means 286 people who unknowingly had Covid-19, have gone into isolation and as a result are not spreading it in their communities.

“So, I’d like to urge anyone who has to leave home for work or those connected to school children and school staff, to get tested at least once, if not twice a week - it will make a big difference.”

• More information on how to get tested in Haringey as well as support and advice