Around one in three people with Covid don’t have symptoms, but can still pass it on, so it’s really important residents act as though they do have it, even if they don't have symptoms, to help stop the spread.

Whether residents have coronavirus symptoms or not, there are now lots of ways they can get tested in Barking and Dagenham. If people are in doubt or just want peace of mind, they should get a test.

The council has added a number of further local test sites, including more local walk-ins, to help residents get a test quickly and easily. Residents can see the full list of test sites in the borough at www.lbbd.gov.uk/get-a-coronavirus-test 

More testing capacity is being added in the borough all the time, so residents should continue to check this webpage regularly for the latest testing information. 

We’re providing more testing facilities across the borough all the time and I urge residents to please take advantage of the service, whether they have symptoms or not, as it will help us to find positive cases more quickly, and break the chains of transmission.

Councillor Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration said:

“As many as one in three people have the virus without symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it. 

“We’re providing more testing facilities across the borough all the time and I urge residents to please take advantage of the service, whether they have symptoms or not, as it will help us to find positive cases more quickly, and break the chains of transmission.

“Covid numbers are rising and our NHS is at risk of being overwhelmed. The new variant of the virus is spreading rapidly and this week Barking and Dagenham has the highest rate of cases in the country.

“So I’m asking all residents to please follow the lockdown rules and stay home – you should only be leaving home for a few essential reasons. Please do your bit to protect the NHS and save lives.”

Residents who have symptoms must stay home (apart from to get a test) and away from anyone they don’t live with, until you get a negative result. Residents can find more about the self-isolation rules here.