A DRIVE-through coronavirus testing facility is due to open in Perth.
The new facility at Perth College UHI is part of the UK-wide drive to increase testing for frontline health staff and key workers.
The site, expected to open this week, will be piloted for the first few days and will operate on an appointment-only basis.
It follows the launch of the UK Government's partnership with universities, research institutes and companies to begin rollout of new Lighthouse labs, with 36 regional testing sites opened to date.
The network ensures that those who test negative for the virus can return to work as soon as possible, while those who test positive can recover. Test results can be expected in a matter of days.
Health minister Lord Bethell said: “The UK Government is rapidly scaling up the national effort to boost testing capacity for coronavirus to protect the vulnerable, support our NHS, and ultimately save lives.
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“This new service will help end the uncertainty of whether NHS and social care staff and other key workers need to stay at home, meaning those who test negative will be able to return to work.
“This is a national effort and we are proud to be working with a number of partners to turn this ambition into a reality and roll out additional capacity to where it is needed.”
Professor John Newton, national coordinator for the UK Coronavirus Testing Strategy, said: “New testing sites such as this one are a key pillar of our 5-pillar plan to scale up testing, and are critical in supporting NHS staff and other frontline workers who are isolating at home to return safely to work if the test is negative.”
“This is a brilliant example of industries and businesses turning their resources to creating and rolling out mass testing at scale, which will help to deliver on our aim of carrying out 100,000 tests a day across the UK by the end of the month.”
Perth College UHI's principal Margaret Cook added: “We are pleased to host this Covid-19 test centre at our Crieff Road campus. Many of our students and staff are undertaking key worker roles at this time and it’s great to see an increase in testing being implemented to support this group continue their excellent work to fight this pandemic.”
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