South African strain: Test kits available for collection following long queues and fully booked test centres

Everyone over the age of 11 who lives, works, or studies in Wandsworth is being urged to take a COVID-19 PCR test after new cases of the South African variant were found in the borough and neighbouring Lambeth.

To make this easier the council now have tests that can be collected and used at home.

These are available for collection from Battersea Sports Centre and the Town Hall (Room 75),

A spokesperson for Wandsworth Council said: "We are aware of queues for tests and that slots are currently fully booked - we are working to reduce waiting times & increase capacity."

Completed tests should then be returned to the same collection point.

Anyone who lives, works, studies or travels through these boroughs is strongly encouraged to take a Covid-19 PCR test, whether they are showing symptoms or not. You should also get the test if you have had the vaccine.

It is important people take a PCR test as these can identify specific variants. Rapid lateral flow device (LFD) tests are also widely available but can only determine positivity for Covid-19, not the specific variant.

Facilities offering asymptomatic PCR testing have been deployed at Wandsworth Town Hall, Tooting Leisure Centre and the University of Roehampton.

Further testing sites are due to be opened during the week.

You can still book an appointment here.

You can also book online on someone else's behalf if they can't do so themselves.

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