Brent Council release details of wards for surge testing following increase in Covid-19 variants

 From Brent Council

 

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North-west London boroughs, including Brent, are seeing a rise in the rates of new COVID-19 variants.

As a result, surge testing has been turned on in the following areas:

• St Raphaels
• Stonebridge
• Wembley North
• Wembley West
• Alperton West
• Tokyngton
• Kensal Green

We will shortly be delivering leaflets with information about vaccines and testing to homes in these wards.

 If you live or work in one of these areas, please do get tested by calling 020 8937 4440 or booking online at www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Get vaccinated

The best way to protect yourself, your friends and your family is to get vaccinated.

Anyone over the age of 32 can now book their first jab on the NHS website or walk-in to a vaccination centre. The age criteria for getting a vaccine changes regularly, please check the NHS website for the latest advice.

GPs are sending invites, and we will be working with the NHS to promote further vaccine bus dates, as well as pop-up vaccination events in areas with low uptake.

Most mass vaccination centres across North West London are providing a walk-in service for first doses and are open from 9am to 7pm. The large vaccination centre in Brent, which is now giving out the Pfizer vaccine, is at Wembley Vaccination Centre: Olympic Office Centre, 8 Fulton Rd, Wembley, London, HA9 0NU.

Walk-ins should bring ID and their NHS number if they have it (although this is not essential).

Those who have had their first dose via a walk-in will be able to book their second vaccine at 8 weeks, 48 hours later using www.nhs.uk

Test twice a week

Surge testing has been turned on in affected areas. We strongly encourage everyone to get tested for coronavirus twice a week, even if they don’t have any symptoms.

By using PCR testing, positive results can be sent for genomic sequencing at specialist laboratories, helping us to identify variants.

Order at-home tests at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or visit a testing site. All London sites will now test people who do not have symptoms.

Those with symptoms should get tested by calling 020 8937 4440 or booking online at www.brent.gov.uk/testing

Those who test positive may be eligible for a £500 support payment if they are on a lower income and cannot go to work because they are self-isolating. www.brent.gov.uk/selfisolationsupport

Staying safe

We are urging everyone to continue to follow social distance guidelines – remember, Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air.