COVID Testing

South African COVID-19 variant testing

For more information about surge testing in N3, visit South African COVID-19 variant testing

NHS COVID-19 app

The NHS COVID-19 app allows you to report symptoms, order a coronavirus test, check in to venues by scanning a QR code and help the NHS trace individuals that may have coronavirus.

Download from Apple’s App Store or Android’s Google Play.

More information about the app

Certain businesses are now required to display an official NHS QR code poster at the entrance, or at the point of service, to allow customers to check in.

Find out more about which businesses fall under these requirements and how to download a QR code 

Rapid COVID-19 testing for people without symptoms

In order to prepare for businesses and society to reopen, anyone can now access free, rapid lateral flow tests (LFDs) for themselves and their families to use twice a week, in line with clinical guidance.

Find out who can get a test, where to get a test and booking information

COVID-19 tests for people with symptoms

When to get a test

If you or anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms:

• high temperature 
• a new, continuous cough
• loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste.

Then, stay at home, self-isolate and get tested.

Order a test immediately online 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.

It is really important that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms is able to get a test. 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

As part of the government’s five pillar strategy for coronavirus testing, 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 mobile testing unit in Barnet
• at a local testing site 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.

For the latest testing information visit COVID-19: getting tested

Local 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 online

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. Anyone with one or more of these symptoms should book a test.

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 website 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 pilot was run by Barnet Public Health and volunteers from AgeUK Barnet, and has now ended.

What to do whilst waiting for your test results

Advice for you and your family when waiting for your test results

After you get your test results

Negative test results

If the test comes back negative, neither you, nor members of your household, will need to continue self-isolating.

Positive test results

If you test positive for the virus you must complete an entire 10-day period of self-isolation. You do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation.

If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 10 days, contact NHS 111 online

If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.

Members of your household must also complete a 10-day isolation period, from when you first showed symptoms, even if they don’t have symptoms themselves.

National and Local Test and Trace Services

If you have been tested

Within 24 hours of testing positive for COVID-19 you will receive a text or email alert from the NHS Test and Trace service

They will give you instructions about how to share details of the people you have been in close, recent contact with. This includes your family or other people you live with, as well as people you have been in direct contact with, or within 2 metres of, for more than 15 minutes.

You will also need to advise of places you have recently visited.

The information you provide will be handled over a secure website and treated confidentially and only used for the purpose of stopping the virus’ spread.

If you don’t have internet access you will be called by one of the 25,000 contact tracers. The service will be using a single phone number which is: 0300 0135 000 but sometimes the caller number will not show up.

The contact tracing team will use the information you provide to alert those most at risk of having the virus that they need to self-isolate. No one contacted as a result of you testing positive for COVID-19 will be given your name.

If the national team can’t get through to you within 24 hours, they will ask the Barnet Test and Trace Team to contact you.

Visit Barnet Test and Trace Service page for details on this local service.

If you have not been tested

If you're told you've been in contact with a person who has COVID-19 you will need to self-isolate for 10 days from the day you were last in contact with the person.

People you live with do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms. However, if you live with someone at higher risk from COVID-19, try to arrange for them to stay with friends or family for 10 days. If that is not possible, you can find advice on how to avoid spreading coronavirus to people you live with at NHS online

If you subsequently feel you may be developing COVID-19 symptoms, you can check your symptoms online at NHS 111 online coronavirus service

Privacy notice

The council’s privacy notice has more information on how we are processing personal data in relation to the pandemic.