A new walk-in testing facility has opened after a rise in coronavirus cases.

The government has confirmed people with Covid-19 symptoms can now book to get a test at Northolt Road Community Hall in South Harrow.

The site opened today (Friday October 9) with appointments made available each day and it will offer self-tests.

The new site is situated so as to be easily accessible without a car.

Scroll down for a list of areas in Harrow with the most Covid-19 cases in the last week

Those being tested will be required to follow public health measures, including social distancing, not travelling by taxi or public transport, practising good personal hygiene and wearing a face-covering throughout, including while travelling to and from the testing centre.

Anyone attending an appointment at walk-through testing will be provided with guidance on getting to and from the test site safely, with additional support for vulnerable groups and people with disabilities.

Testing is available only for those with coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

Anyone with one or more of these symptoms should book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

Anyone testing positive for the virus in England will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace to help them trace their contacts. This will help people to identify who they may have been in close contact with, protecting others from further transmission.

Close contacts of those testing positive will also hear from NHS Test and Trace, asking them to stay at home for 14 days to prevent them from unknowingly spreading the virus. They will be advised to also book a test if they develop symptoms.

Harrow has experienced a rise in Covid-19 cases over the last couple of weeks, like the rest of the country.

Government figures show at least 246 Harrow residents have tested positive for Covid-19 since October 1.

In the previous seven days, there were 146 cases in Harrow.

The rate of cases, which is measured per 100,000 population, in the seven days to October 6 is 101.1 (254 cases), which is the fifth highest of all the London boroughs.

A government map also helps identify where in Harrow the majority of cases were between September 29 and October 5.

These were Kenton West (22 cases) Rayners Lane South (13) Harrow-on-the-Hill (12) South Harrow (12) Wealdstone South (12) Kenton Woodcock Park (11) Edgware West (11) Wealdstone North (10) Greenhill North (10) and Stanmore Uxbridge Road (10).

Harrow Times:

The darker the blue, the more cases there are in that ward

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."