Haringey’s first rapid coronavirus testing site has opened this week.

The site in Station Road, Wood Green, offers Covid-19 lateral flow tests (LFT) for residents who are not showing any of the symptoms of the virus/

Dr Will Maimaris, Haringey’s Director of Public Health, said: “Around one in three people who have Covid-19 don’t show any symptoms that they have the virus.

“They can pass it on to other people without knowing and, unfortunately, those people may not be so lucky.

“The rapid tests we are carrying out through this programme will pick up the majority of people who have COVID and are infectious, so if those that test positive self-isolate, it will mean fewer people spreading it among their family, friends, at work or in the community.

“However, even if you do take a test and test negative, you must still take precautions and follow the guidance, limiting the number of people you see, socially distancing, wearing a mask, and washing your hands.

“We hope that it will be used by those most at risk, frontline workers and people who frequently use public transport.”

People who take the test – which analyses a swab sample taken from the back of the mouth and up the nostril – should get the results back within an hour.

Those that test positive will need to confirm the result at a national testing centre. Haringey currently has three – at the Irish Centre, Alexandra Palace, and Stamford Hill Primary School.

The site was opened last week for council workers and teachers from primary and special schools.

The centre is at 48 Station Road, Wood Green, N22 7TY, and is open five days a week - Tuesday to Friday from noon until 7pm and Saturdays from 10am until 5pm.

Other test sites are planned to open in Haringey within the next two weeks.