A "much-needed" new Covid-19 testing centre has opened in Eltham on the site of a University campus.
The new walk-in testing centre is situation on the University of Greenwich's Avery Hill campus on Avery Hill Road, SE9 2UG. It is the result of a working partnership between the university, Greenwich Council and the Department of Health and Social Care.
With coronavirus rates rising across the country, and cases in south east London over 100 a week in every borough, the centre will provide much-needed testing capacity to local residents.
It will compliment the current testing facilities in Greenwich, a drive-through centre in a car park next to the O2 Arena, and a mobile testing unit at Charlton Athletic FC.
Similar centres have opened in Bexleyheath, on Erith Road, Deptford in Lewisham, and St Paul's Cray in Bromley.
Council leader Danny Thorpe said: "We recognise that you may have concerns about traffic, parking and safety issues.
“Please be assured that everyone who attends the testing centre will be instructed to be on foot, not travel by taxi or public transport and follow social distancing guidelines."
The Avery Hill site is accessible by foot only, and those being tested are required to follow public health measures in attending the testing centre, including social distancing and wearing a face covering throughout.
Tests are only available for those with pre-booked appointments, and the mobile centre is part of a wider drive to improve testing across the country.
Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said they were hosting the testing site on its campus to "enable us to support our students to access testing and receive the relevant information, guidance and support" after a small cluster of cases at the University.
"I'm pleased to confirm that the students who have tested positive are doing well and are self-isolating in line with Public Health guidance. We are taking every possible step to ensure our campuses are Covid-Safe for our students and our staff.
The vice-chancellor added: "We are pleased to host a testing centre to support our local community in Greenwich and play a part in the national effort to tackle covid-19.
"I welcome this proactive approach to testing as it will help ensure that we can contain any outbreaks and also reassure staff and students. The council have worked very closely with us to make this happen."
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