Free Covid-19 tests for Waltham Forest parents

Parents and carers of primary school, secondary school and college-age children, including childcare and support bubbles, can now test themselves twice every week from home using rapid lateral flow tests.

Home testing kits can be collected at local test sites in Stanley Road, Linford Road, and Church Lane.

These sites have moved to half-day opening times so that those with symptoms can get tested in the morning. They will then close for a deep clean and open up again at 1.30pm for people to walk in and pick up their lateral flow test kits

Joe McDonnell, director of public health at Waltham Forest Council, said: “Regular testing for those without symptoms is vital to reduce rates of Covid-19. Testing is already available for everyone in the borough at our community test sites, especially for those who cannot work from home or who must leave the home for essential reasons. As the country gradually opens up, home testing kits are a further boost to safeguard the population and stop the spread of the virus. I would encourage anyone living with school-age children to get tested regularly, either at one of our many test sites or at home.”

Cllr Clare Coghill, leader of Waltham Forest Council, said: “It’s great that many children and young people are able to get back to school and we are moving closer to a more normal way of life. I want to say a huge thank you to all teachers and school staff for all their hard work, not only throughout the lockdown, but in making sure that return to schools are as safe as possible.

“Testing, alongside staying at home, following the rules of Hands, Face, Space, getting a test if you have Covid-19 symptoms, and self-isolating if that test is positive, all remain critical behaviours to keep reducing the rate of infection and protect one another.”

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