Lambeth Council has encouraged anyone who lives or works in Clapham to take a Covid-19 PCR test after 422 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Lambeth in the seven days to June 15.

A pop-up testing site on Clapham Common which was due to close has been kept in operation following a rise in confirmed cases of the Delta variant.

Clapham is one of five areas in Lambeth providing surge testing for asymptomatic people, with mobile testing sites in Brixton, Stockwell, West Norwood and Vauxhall also kept running by the council. Since around one third of people with Covid-19 can infect others while presenting no symptoms, pop up testing sites enable people who live, work or study in these areas to develop a habit of confirming they do not have the virus.

In Clapham, the site on the Common is located on Windmill Drive, near the playground (SW4 9DE). It is open from 8.30am to 5pm daily.

At all sites you can get tested in person or pick up a PCR test kit to take home and return to the same site after using.

Cllr Jim Dickson, joint Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: "We have taken the steps to increase testing as a response to the rising number of cases we are seeing in these areas.

"Lambeth reflects the national picture – we are at a critical point in terms of rising case rates, and the easing of restrictions has rightly been paused.

"During this pause we are working hard to increase vaccination rates and run targeted extra testing in the borough to combat the spread of the Delta variant.

"We are grateful to all our residents for their cooperation. The efforts of our communities during previous surge testing efforts helped contain variants of concern, and I'm confident that we can do the same again."

A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: "People in Lambeth should continue to make use of free twice-weekly rapid tests, commonly known as lateral flow devices, alongside the PCR test as part of surge testing."

"Cases are particularly high in the 20-35 year old age group and we would particularly encourage people in this age range to get a PCR test as well as using regular rapid tests."

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