20 April 2021

Back to school safely - Don't Blow It!

With the end of the Easter break, many will be going back to places of education. As we move forward with the government roadmap, there are a few ways you can keep each other safe.

You must observe Hands, Face, Space:

• Wash your hands when you leave and arrive to school and/or your home.
• Wear a face covering when collecting your children.
• Do not congregate outside of schools, colleges or other educational facilities and give at least 2m space to those waiting for their children.

It is also recommended you:

• Provide your child with hand sanitizer if possible for when hand-washing is not available.
• Arrive on time, not early or late, if your school community is currently following a staggered pick-up and drop-off schedule. Leave quickly.
• Get the vaccine when you are eligible.
• Pull your child out of school if they show symptoms of COVID-19 and self-isolate with your household.
• Get tested as often as possible. Twice weekly rapid lateral flow tests are available to everyone. Find your nearest pick-up location.

Find out more

Follow our Mobile Testing Units on Twitter

If you don’t have COVID-19 symptoms, you can access your FREE rapid tests twice a week by using our Mobile Testing Units. They visit a number of sites across the borough during the week to help everyone return to a more normal way of life. No appointment necessary, please just drop-by!

As the locations of our Mobile Testing Units are subject to change at short notice, you can keep an eye on our Twitter page for the very latest details. For example, one of our Mobile Testing Units will now visit the Channins Hounslow Hotel, Feltham on Mondays (between 9am-5pm), instead of the previously advertised Danehurst activity centre, Brentford.

If you prefer, you can also drop-in at one of our Community Mass Testing sites where our staff are on hand to help you:

• Heston Library – New Heston Road, Hounslow TW5 0LW – Open 6.30am-7.30pm Mon-Fri, or 8.00am-4.00pm Sat/Sun

• Hounslow House – 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB – Open 8.00am-4.00pm, Mon-Sun
• Isleworth Library – Twickenham Road, Isleworth TW7 7EU – Open 8.00am-4.00pm, Mon-Sun
• Staines Rugby Club, Snakey Lane, Feltham TW13 7NB – Open 8.00am-4.00pm, Mon-Sun

To book online visit: http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/rapidtest or call to make an appointment: 0207 084 9697

Book a rapid test

45 or older? If you're eligible, find out how to get your vaccine

If you are aged 45 or over, are clinically vulnerable, a frontline worker or a carer, you can now book your COVID-19 vaccination through the NHS website even if you haven’t yet received a letter. Appointments are available at sites across the Borough and also Ealing, Wembley and Hammersmith.

Appointments are required beforehand for all vaccination sites except Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre.

We are aware of other scam messages circulating – please ignore them. The NHS will never ask you for money or your bank details for your vaccination – it is free. 

You can book an appointment now if:

• you are aged 45 or over
• you are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
• you are an eligible frontline health or social care worker
• you have a condition that puts you at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)
• you have a learning disability
• you are a main carer for someone at high risk from coronavirus

You can book appointments at a larger vaccination centres or a pharmacy that provides COVID-19 vaccinations.

Please make sure you plan your journey responsibly to allow for as much social distancing as possible.

Book appointment

Helping you to get tested twice a week

Twice weekly rapid tests are now available to everyone and we’re here to help if you haven’t had a rapid test before.

It’s important to get tested twice a week if you don’t have COVID-19 symptoms. Approximately 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 have no symptoms and could be spreading the virus without realising. It’s free, quick and easy to do on your way out, or on your way to and from work.

There are lots of ways you can now access your FREE rapid tests:

Drop-in at one of our Community Mass Testing sites where our staff are on hand to guide you through the process and to answer any questions you may have:

• Heston Library – New Heston Road, Hounslow TW5 0LW – Open 6.30am-7.30pm Mon-Fri, or 8.00am-4.00pm Sat/Sun

• Hounslow House – 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB – Open 8.00am-4.00pm, Mon-Sun
• Isleworth Library – Twickenham Road, Isleworth TW7 7EU – Open 8.00am-4.00pm, Mon-Sun
• Staines Rugby Club, Snakey Lane, Feltham TW13 7NB – Open 8.00am-4.00pm, Mon-Sun

To book online visit: www.hounslow.gov.uk/rapidtest or call to make an appointment: 0207 084 9697

• Keep an eye on our Twitter page where we post details about the locations of our Mobile Testing Units.
• Collect up to 2 packs of 7 tests to do at home: find a test site where you can collect rapid tests or find a pharmacy where you can collect rapid tests
• Order rapid test kits to be delivered to your home: Order rapid lateral flow home test kits on GOV.UK

If you do tests at home, you’ll need to report your results online here: Report your test result online or by calling 119. 

Please note: Whilst libraries re-opened from 12 April, Heston Library and Isleworth Library will remain in use as rapid test sites only until further notice. Thank you for your understanding.

More on COVID-19 testing

If you're observing Ramadan, find information on how to keep safe

Do you have concerns about what Ramadan means for you when it comes to keeping yourself and your loved ones safe from COVID-19?

According to guidance from the Muslim Council for Britain:

• The vaccine is halal
• Getting a vaccination does not invalidate your fast
• Taking a PCR/Lateral Flow Test does not invalidate your fast
• It is key to observe the Rule of 6 (no socialising indoors, outdoors in groups of 6 or two households only) during this important time

If you have any more questions, you can find guidance on these topics and more on the Muslim Council for Britain's website.

Find out more

Not sure when you could get an appointment? You can get vaccinated anytime

NW London residents aged 45 and over can now walk-in for a Covid-19 vaccination, at one of our eight large vaccination centres across eight North West London boroughs – no appointment needed If you live in one of these boroughs (Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster) drop-in to one of our centres below:

• Ealing Vaccination Centre: CP House, 97-107 Uxbridge Road, Ealing W5 5TL
• Heathrow Vaccination Centre, Compass Centre, Bath Road, Heathrow, TW6 2GW
• Hammersmith Vaccination Centre: Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands Hammersmith International Ctre, Hammersmith, London W6 8DR
• Hounslow Vaccination Centre: Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre - 658 Chiswick High Rd, Brentford TW8 0HJ
• Marble Arch Vaccination Centre: 86 Edgware Rd, London W2 2EA
• Old Vinyl Factory Vaccination Centre: The Record Store, The Old Vinyl Factory, 15 Pressing Lane, Hayes, UB3 1HA
• Science Museum Vaccination Centre, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
• Wembley Vaccination Centre: Olympic Office Centre, 8 Fulton Rd, Wembley, London, HA9 0NU

More details for these vaccination centres providing this walk-in service can be found here.  All our mass vaccination sites and will open 9am-7pm.

You are asked to bring proof of age, your name and address and your NHS number if you have it.

Please note that the walk-in services will operate on a first come, first served basis for residents eligible to be vaccinated and it is possible you will be asked to come back at a later date should supplies run out on a given day. You can of course guarantee a vaccine slot by booking your appointment through the national booking system.

Frontline health and social-care staff can now attend a mass vaccination site or participating community pharmacy site without an appointment!

If this is you, you will need a letter from your employer confirming your employment.

You can get a vaccine at any of the mass vaccination sites below without any prior arrangements:

• Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre
• The Compass Centre at Heathrow

You can also get vaccinated at any of the participating community pharmacy centres below:

Get more info

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