A drive-through coronavirus testing centre is to open at Aberdeen Airport as part of the drive to increase testing for NHS workers.
Testing appointments will be given to key NHS staff who are either self-isolating or who have household members showing Covid-19 symptoms, with workers being selected and contacted by their health board.
The new facility at Aberdeen Airport is part of a growing number of sites across the UK being set up to test frontline NHS staff and identify if they currently have the virus.
Test results will be sent “within a few days”, according to the Government, with workers who test negative for coronavirus able to return to work immediately, while those who test positive will be able to take time off to recover.
The testing centre – which is set to open for a trial period from Saturday – will be established at one of the airport’s car parks, with up to five drive-through lanes.
Steve Szalay, Aberdeen International Airport’s managing director, said: “The national response to this global pandemic has been nothing short of remarkable.
“We have seen a wide and diverse range of businesses make their services and expertise available in the fight against this virus and we were keen to help in any way.
“We are in regular contact with both the UK and Scottish governments as Aberdeen Airport continues to both support lifeline passenger flights and essential oil and gas services, however we’ve also stressed that we were ready to offer support and make our facilities available.
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“The park and depart facility on Wellheads Road is an ideal space for a testing facility and we were more than happy to make it available given Covid-19 impacts us all.”
Earlier this week Glasgow Airport also transformed its long stay car park into a similar drive-through testing facility for frontline NHS staff.
Health minister Lord Bethell said: “The 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.
“This new service will help end the uncertainty of whether NHS and social care staff need to stay at home, meaning those who test negative will be able to return to work.”
Scotland Office Minister Douglas Ross added: “This new UK Government-funded testing centre at Aberdeen Airport will help our frontline NHS staff continue doing their lifesaving work.
“We need them able to go back to work and help those most in need of care, safe in knowledge they are not infected.
“The UK Government is expanding our testing capacity right across the UK and this new centre is a crucial part of that.”
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