*Klinger Hall, Edmonton (credit Enfield Council)*

Residents can now get tested regardless of whether they have symptoms, reports James Cracknell

Enfield Council has opened three “rapid testing” centres in the borough so that residents without Covid-19 symptoms can be tested without needing to make an appointment.

The lateral flow testing (LFT) centres for Enfield residents have been set up locally to try and curb an alarming rise in the local case rate, which is now among the worst in the UK and is still rapidly rising.

It is hoped the mass availability of testing will identify people who may not know they have the virus and enable them to self isolate – before they develop symptoms.

The three new test centres are at Klinger Hall, Copperfield Mews, Edmonton N18 1PF; at Kempe Hall, Kempe Road, Enfield EN1 4QS, and at Brigadier Hall, Cedar Road, Enfield EN2 0NL. All three are open from 9am-6pm.

Each will be capable of delivering nearly 900 tests per day with a total borough target of around 151,000 tests over the next six weeks. They will complement the five test centres in the borough that offer tests for people who have coronavirus symptoms.

There is no need to book a test at the new centres, and residents without symptoms can simply turn up during the centre’s opening hours. Attendees will be expected to wear a mask (unless exempt) and strict public health social distancing arrangements will be put in place to protect residents and staff at the centres.

Council leader Nesil Caliskan said: “We have acted rapidly to set up community testing centres in Enfield to protect members of the public and slow the spread of coronavirus within our most affected communities.

“Identifying those individuals who have this virus and ensuring they self-isolate and do not spread it to others means we can bring Covid-19 under control and get back to a semblance of normality. Equally being able to identify people that test negative allows them to go about their life without having to isolate unnecessarily”

“We are working tirelessly to tackle coronavirus in Enfield but we need residents to help us by doing everything they can by being tested and by following the public health advice to wear a mask if in shops or on public transport, socially distancing and washing your hands regularly.”

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