A new coronavirus testing centre opened today in Walthamstow.

The centre, which is appointment-only, is located on Linford Road car park, around half an hour’s walk from the Stanley Road car park testing centre.

Appointments are only available for those with coronavirus symptoms, such as a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste.

The site was chosen to be “easily accessible without a car” and those tested are not meant to travel by taxi or public transport.

Read more: Covid infection rates soar in every London borough but one

Health Minister Lord Bethell said: “We continue to expand testing to make sure that everyone with symptoms can get a test, with our new walk-in sites making it even easier no matter where you live.

“This new site forms part of our national testing network, which has the capacity to test more than a million people a week and is growing all the time.

“If you have symptoms of coronavirus, I urge you to book a test today and follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace if you are contacted to protect others around you and stop the spread of the virus.”

In early September, Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy criticised the Government for their handling of the national testing system after a resident was “directed to Inverness” for a test.

On September 9, she told BBC News: “I went and stood outside (the Stanley Road testing centre) for an hour to see how many people were using it. Five people turned up.”

It is understood that the issue at the time was a lack of lab capacity to process tests rather than capacity in testing centres.

Those with symptoms can book an appointment on nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

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