Barking and Dagenham Council has launched its community testing programme in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care to help drive down transmission rates of Covid-19 in the borough to help protect people most at risk, using rapid turnaround tests supplied by NHS Test and Trace.

 

Testing will be made available for asymptomatic residents (those not experiencing any symptoms) from today, Monday 21 December at Gascoigne Children’s Centre, St Ann’s Road, Barking, IG11 7AD, from 10am to 7pm every day (although it will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day). 

With its targeted approach, community testing aims to reduce the prevalence of the virus in our borough, so I will advise residents to take advantage of this service.

Councillor Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration said: “Roughly one in three people have the virus without symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it. Broadening testing to identify those showing no symptoms will mean finding positive cases more quickly, and break chains of transmission. 

 

“With its targeted approach, community testing aims to reduce the prevalence of the virus in our borough, so I will advise residents to take advantage of this service.

 

“All efforts to find people without symptoms work hand in hand with the existing free testing service for those with symptoms. Anyone with one or more of these symptoms – a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – should book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.”

 

For more information on how to get a test, visit: Get a coronavirus test | LBBD. Residents can also book a test at the May and Baker site on Dagenham Rd, Dagenham, RM7 0QX. The site is open on 21, 22, 24, 29 December and 4 January and is 9am to 3pm. Residents can book through the national portal or by dialing 119.

 

In addition, there are currently two mobile testing units available for residents today tomorrow 22 December located in Barking Town Centre and at the Dagenham Rugby Club open from 8am to 3pm.

 

For secondary school pupils who do not have symptoms they can visit the website to find out more.