A drive-through coronavirus testing facility is to open in Inverness as part of the government’s UK-wide drive to increase testing for thousands more NHS and other key workers.
The site sits alongside a rapidly expanding network of testing sites being set up around the UK, and is operating on an appointment-only basis for NHS staff and other key workers. The facility will be located at UHI Inverness campus and will open on 26 April 2020, it will be piloted for its first few days of operation.
This follows the launch of the UK government’s partnership with universities, research institutes and companies to begin roll-out of the network of new labs and field testing sites across the UK, with 35 testing sites opened to date.
This network will provide thousands more polymerase chain reaction swab tests for critical key workers, starting with NHS front-line staff. This means those who test negative for COVID-19 can return to work as soon as possible, and those who test positive are able to recover.
UK Government minister, Douglas Ross said: “This new UK Government funded testing centre in Inverness will help key workers living in the area continue their vital work, helping to look after those who need it most."
“The UK Government has committed to expand our testing capacity right across the UK and this new centre is now one of four throughout Scotland. We will continue to work for everyone in the UK to save lives and protect our NHS.”
The testing centre will offer self-administered tests. Those tested will receive their results within a few days.
The UK government is also urgently working on setting up a home-testing service for critical key workers, supported by Amazon’s logistics network and other commercial partners.
