A closed pub in Thamesmead has become the latest venue for critical workers to get fast, free Covid-19 tests.
The Princess Alice pub on Battery Road, opposite Belmarsh prison, has been taken over as part of the Greenwich borough-wide community testing programme. Tests are also on offer at locations in Greenwich, Charlton and Eltham. Results will be sent to you within 45 minutes.
If you don’t have symptoms, the tests at the Princess Alice and other locations in the borough can be booked at at the Greenwich Council website.
Tests are also available at the Waterfront Leisure Centre in Woolwich; Daniel Defoe Hall, next to Greenwich DLR station; the David Fussey Building at the University of Greenwich off Avery Hill Road, Eltham; and The Valley in Charlton.
If you have symptoms, don’t use this service – go straight to the standard testing service instead at gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test, or call 119.
Many people with the virus don’t show symptoms, so the fast lateral flow tests are useful at picking up these cases. While open to all they are aimed at critical workers and those who live with them, young people still attending school, and others who are unable to stay at home during the lockdown.
If you get a positive test, you should always act on it – but don’t be reassured by a negative test, because analysis shows lateral flow tests only pick up half the active infections. If people self-isolate as a result of taking these tests, then they have done their job – but lateral flow tests are not fool-proof.
Local councillor Averil Lekau was among the first to be tested at the Princess Alice yesterday.
Thanks to @RBG public health, @ThamesmeadLDN, #Abbey and the Charlton Athletic team for setting up the Princess Alice testing center in Thamesmead. Opening tomorrow at 11 and thereafter from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. It was quick and easy pic.twitter.com/KwxbfSQVCH
— Averil Lekau (@averil_lekau) January 26, 2021
Public Health England figures show that more than 31,000 lateral flow tests have been carried out so far in Greenwich borough.
In neighbouring boroughs, Lewisham is offering rapid tests by appointment in Catford and Downham to critical workers and those who live with them; while Bexley is offering some walk-up tests from a mobile unit in Erith town centre as well as tests by appointment at its civic centre in Bexleyheath.
- Local info: Greenwich | Lewisham | Bexley
- Got symptoms? Book a test now or call 119
- Not got symptoms? Book a fast test in Greenwich (Greenwich, Eltham, Charlton, Woolwich, Thamesmead: open to all), Lewisham (Catford and Downham: critical workers only), Bexley (Bexleyheath and Erith)
- NHS advice | Stay at home | Wash your hands more often
- Official figures on virus spread
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