COVID-19 testing
Free COVID-19 testing provision for most people in Southwark has now ceased in accordance with the Government’s instructions and their strategy of “living with COVID”. A small number of people can still access free COVID-19 testing.
Find out what to do if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19.
What to do if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, follow government guidance on what you should do
When should a COVID-19 test be performed?
From 1 April 2022 free testing is no longer routinely available for people across England, except for specific groups. Please see government guidance for more information on who should seek a COVID-19 test and when.
What happens if your test result is positive
If your test was positive it's likely you have COVID-19. You should follow government guidance for people with COVID-19. Those who have had close contact with you should follow government guidance for close contacts of people with COVID-19.
What to do whilst waiting for test or test results
You should follow the latest guidance for people with COVID-19
What to do after receiving your PCR test result
- PCR is negative – find out what you should do if you get a negative test result.
- PCR is positive – find out what you should do if you get a positive test result.
Anyone you live with should follow the latest advice on what to do if you are a contact of someone with COVID-19
What to do if you had a negative LFT result, but took a PCR test after, which was positive
This result is because of two possible reasons:
- You did not have enough of the virus to be detected when you took the LFT.
- You've become infected since you did the LFT.
You should follow the latest guidance on what to do if you test positive for COVID-19 from the date of the positive PCR test.
What do I do if I have an inconclusive LFT result?
If you have an inconclusive or void LFT result, you should take another LFT as soon as it is possible. You should still report results of a void LFT tests.
How to report your LFt result
You need to register your home LFT COVID-19 results. You should report test results whether they're positive, negative or inconclusive.
Let people know if you’ve tested positive
If you’ve had a positive COVID-19 test, or are experiencing symptoms you should tell any recent close contacts as soon as possible.
What to do if you’ve been in contact with someone who has COVID-19
Find out the latest guidelines if you’ve been in contact with someone with COVID-19.
COVID-19 Vaccination
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is an essential part of getting back to normal and helps prevent the spread of COVID-19. Find out about the COVID-19 vaccination in Southwark.
Page last updated: 07 April 2022
