Dear Resident,
Your local councillors and I have been informed of one confirmed case of the South African Covid-19 variant in the Wimbledon Park Area.
Therefore, beginning today there will be a week-long programme of enhanced testing in the Wimbledon Park area to track the South African variant of Covid-19 and anyone who has no symtoms, is over 16, and lives, works or travels to the area should get a test locally.
The aim of the testing programme is to provide reassurance and to stop any potential spread. It does not mean there is any current outbreak in the local area. A similar, and unrelated, testing programme in the Pollards HIll area of Merton has so far found no new cases of the variant.
Mobile Testing Units
You can book a test at the mobile testing unit at either Wimbledon Park Golf Club or Wickes car park, Plough Lane Retail Park.
These will be open daily from today, Friday 26 February, 8am–3pm until Thursday 4 March.
Pre-booking is required and can be done here: www.merton.gov.uk/EnhancedTests
Pick-up/Drop-off testing
Alternatively a pick-up/drop-off test centre will be operating at Christ the King Church Hall, 9 Crescent Road.
Here, residents will be able to pick up and drop off home testing kits. The centre will be open from Monday 1 March, 8:30am–6pm until Friday 5 March.
You can find full details on the testing programme on Merton Council's website here: https://news.merton.gov.uk/2021/02/25/enhanced-testing-to-launch-in-wimbledon-park-area-to-track-south-african-variant-of-covid-19
Your local Councillors, Oonagh Moulton, Janice Howard and Ed Gretton, and I will be in regular contact with Merton Council to raise any concerns from residents and keep updated on the testing process.
Please do get in touch with us if there are any issues you wish to raise about this.
With best wishes,
Stephen Hammond MP
Member of Parliament for Wimbledon