Getting a COVID-19 Test in Barnet
COVID-19 tests for people with symptoms
You should get a test if you or anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms, ie:
- high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste
If you have any of these symptons, you should stay at home, self-isolate and get tested.
Order a test immediately or call 119 if you don't have internet access. You should be tested as soon as possible and within the first 8 days of showing symptoms as this is when the test is most effective.
NHS Test and Trace service lets anyone with COVID-19 symptoms get tested.
If you do not have COVID-19 symptoms, do not try to book a test as you could be taking a test away from someone who really needs it.
Where to get a test
There are a number of ways that you can get tested.
Testing is now available for anyone with symptoms, even if those are mild. However, you should be tested within the first 8 days of showing symptoms. It is therefore vital that if you have symptoms that you apply to take a test as soon as possible.
You can choose to take the test:
- at a test site near you today and get your result tomorrow
- at a local testing site in Barnet
- at a mobile testing unit in Barnet
- with a home test kit
On days 1 to 7 since showing symptoms, you can get tested at a site or at home. If you’re ordering a home test kit on day 7, do it by 3pm.
On day 8 since showing symptoms, you need to go to a test site. It's too late to order a home test kit.
Get the latest testing information COVID-19: getting tested
Barnet’s Testing Sites
We now have 3 Local Testing Site’s (LTS) in Barnet:
Watling Community Centre (HA8 0TR)
Fenella Building Car Park – Middlesex University (NW4 4BS)
Osidge Lane Care Park - Southgate (N14 5DU)
These sites, accessible without a car, have been opened to improve the accessibility of coronavirus testing for local communities on-foot.
Appointments will be available throughout the day 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm.
Appointments need to be booked via Gov.UK
Testing is available only for those with coronavirus symptoms; a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste.
Do not contact the Centre or University for appointments or attend the site without booking, you must book an appointment via the Government portal linked above.
Home testing
Home test kits can be delivered to your door so that you can test yourself and your family without leaving the house.
Home test kits can be ordered via the NHS or by calling the COVID-19 Testing Centre on 119 if you don't have internet access.
If you haven’t got a test by day 8 after symptoms started, you need to go to a test site. It’s too late to order a home test kit.
Volunteer outreach COVID-19 tests
This scheme is run by Barnet Public Health and volunteers from AgeUK Barnet. It is available for Barnet residents that find it hard to access the national COVID-19 test. This might be because of issues accessing, completing or returning a test.
Who can get an outreach test
This scheme is available for Barnet residents that find it hard to access the national COVID-19 test. This might be because of issues accessing, completing or returning a test.
For example, you:
- would struggle to access to the national test scheme because of cognitive, language, literacy or digital barriers
- need personal help to understand and complete the self-swabbing process
- would struggle to get to a test centre or post-box because of physical disability, frailty, or shielding
You must also:
- have coronavirus symptoms; a high temperature or a new, continuous cough or a loss of sense of smell or taste
- be within the first 5 days of symptoms starting
- be an adult aged over 18 (or 16/17-year-old living independently)
If you qualify for the scheme, a volunteer from AgeUK Barnet will deliver a test to you. They will guide you through the test and return the completed test to the national lab for you. You can get your result by email or phone call.
COVID-19 Mobile testing units
Mobile testing units (MTUs) are open to anyone with coronavirus symptoms. If you do not have COVID-19 symptoms, do not try to book a test as you could be taking a test away from someone who really needs it.
The MTU visits Barnet several times each week and is accessible for people in vehicles or on foot.
All appointments must be booked in advance.
You should not use public transport to get to your appointment.
All MTU operating hours are between 9.00am and 3.00pm.
Venues:
Brent Cross Shopping Centre
Edgware Community Hospital
Brent Cross Shopping Centre
Barnet House
Local slots for any particular day of testing become available for booking online from 6pm the day before.
Rapid Tests
During lockdown, you should only get a rapid test if you have to leave home to go to work, school, or to volunteer.
You can get a free rapid COVID-19 test if:
you do not have any symptoms of COVID-19
you are over 12 years old (12 to 15-year olds will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian)
you have to leave home to go to work, school, or to volunteer.
Key workers have priority access to rapid tests. Key workers include:
- health and care staff who do not have access to testing at work
- emergency services staff
- early years, primary and secondary school staff
- supermarket workers
- delivery drivers
- essential voluntary workers
Keyworkers can book 2 tests a week, 3 to 5 days apart.
If you can work from home and do not have symptoms, you do not need a rapid test. You should stay at home.
More testing centres will be opening in the coming weeks to make it even easier to access rapid community testing across Barnet.
How to get a rapid test
You can book a free rapid COVID-19 test using Barnet’s online booking form.
Rapid tests are currently available daily between 7am and 9pm at:
Colindale Library 7 Bristol Avenue, NW9 4BR
Hendon Leisure Centre Marble Drive, London NW2 1XQ
Burnt Oak Leisure Centre Watling Avenue, Edgware HA8 0NP
A small number of walk-in tests will be available at each test site on a first come, first serve basis.
You can book up to 2 tests per week, but they must be 3 to 5 days apart.
You should not book a rapid test if you have symptoms of COVID-19.
If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, you should book a free PCR test at one of our local symptomatic testing sites
Watling Community Centre (HA8 0TR)
Fenella Building Car Park – Middlesex University (NW4 4BS)
Osidge Lane Care Park - Southgate (N14 5DU)
What happens when you arrive for your test:
You must wear a face covering.
You will need to tell the test site staff the time and date of your booking.
You will need to take a swab of your throat and nose yourself. There will be written instructions with diagrams and test site staff can help to talk you through the process if you are unsure.
You will be given a barcode and you will need to register your details and this barcode number on the NHS Test & Trace website.
You will be asked to provide a UK mobile number and valid email address for your test results to be sent to you later that day.
After receiving your results
If you test positive, you must self-isolate immediately and you will need to arrange a PCR test to confirm the result. You can access a PCR test on the Gov.UK website
