Ealing Council is asking residents living and working in parts of Hanwell and West Ealing to get a COVID-19 test after a local resident tested positive for the South African strain of the virus:

• Ealing Council, Residents urged to get COVID-19 tests

Residents over the age of 18 years living or working in the area that borders Hanwell and West Ealing town centres and adjacent areas, who do not have symptoms are asked to take a PCR COVID-19 test which is laboratory analysed.

This is to understand if this strain is present and to contain any further cases in the area.  The aim is to test as many people as possible living in the area at least once in the next couple of weeks.

To support this testing, a walk-through mobile testing unit for people without symptoms is being set up at Dean Gardens Car Park, Leeland Terrace, West Ealing, W13 9DA to make testing as convenient as possible. The unit will be in place from Monday 1 February. Book a test:

• www.ealing.gov.uk/covidtest.

Over the coming week, free home tests will also be delivered to every household in the identified area. Residents of all ages will be asked to complete the test and hand it back to the collection service.  Do not post the kits back.  No payment will be asked for delivery or collection of these kits. If people get a positive result, they will be contacted by the national test and trace service and asked to self-isolate for 10 days.   

The impacted area includes approximately 5,500 households in the W7 and W13 areas. People who live near to the area and are worried can also book at test.

The council is planning to hold a public meeting for residents later this week.