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Covid-19 testing centre opens at Bristol Airport
A new drive-through coronavirus testing facility at Bristol Airport is part of the government’s UK-wide drive to increase testing for thousands more NHS and other key workers.
The facility on the airport’s staff car park aims to provide thousands more swab tests – which are used to identify if you currently have the virus – for critical key workers, starting with NHS front line staff.
This means those who test negative for coronavirus can return to work as soon as possible, and those who test positive are able to recover.
is needed now More than ever
Another drive-through testing facility for NHS staff previously opened in the car park at Ashton Gate Stadium.
The testing centre at the airport is being operated in partnership with G4S and Boots, and is offering assisted and self-administered tests – with results available within a few days.
https://www.facebook.com/BristolAirport/videos/546912666227446
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 five-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.”
Bristol Airport CEO Dave Lees added: “I am very proud that Bristol Airport is able to play a small but extremely important role in supporting the government’s target to test more and more frontline NHS and keyworkers by making available our staff car park and facilities to become a large scale drive-through testing station.
“We have been in constant contact with the government to play our part in the Covid-19 response plan including facilitating repatriation, essential flying, military and medical flights and all vital air links necessary at this time.
“I would like to say an enormous thank you to all the teams involved at Bristol Airport and within the Department for Health and Social Care, who have mobilised really quickly to make this testing station a reality.
“Covid-19 has impacted all families across the UK and we are indebted to all NHS, carers and all keyworkers helping to keep everyone safe during these unprecedented times.”
Main photo: Bristol Airport
Read more: NHS staff can get tested for coronavirus at Ashton Gate
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