A drive-through coronavirus mobile testing facility is to open on the Isle of Wight as part of the government’s UK-wide drive to increase testing for thousands more NHS and other key workers.
The Island facility has been arranged through close partnership working of the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) to enable key workers having started to experience symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 5 days, to access local facilities, rather than having to travel to the mainland.
The mobile testing unit is visiting Medina Leisure Centre car park on Fairlee Road, Newport on Saturday (25th April) until Tuesday (28th April).
Local organisations are being contacted directly to encourage their key workers who have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 themselves, or who have a household member who has experienced symptoms within the past 5 days and are self-isolating, to contact 0333 3218 865 to obtain an appointment to visit the facility.
If people are eligible key workers, they can also call 0333 3218 865 to obtain an appointment.
Advice will be given to individuals on contacting the appointment booking line about eligibility, what they need to bring (including employment identification) and details about what to expect on the day.
Council leader Dave Stewart said:
“I’d encourage everyone who meets the eligibility criteria – a key worker or critical service colleague – who has themselves or a member of their household experienced Covid-19 symptoms in the past five days, to book and appointment and take a test.
Article continues below this advertisement “It is essential our vital key worker network across the whole Island is supported so that they can continue the truly remarkable work they’ve been undertaking over the past month.”
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 piloted for its first few days of operation.
Who is a key worker?
- All NHS and social care staff, including hospital, community and primary care, and staff providing support to frontline NHS services (for example accommodation, catering) and voluntary workers.
- Police, fire and rescue services.
- Local authority staff, including those working with vulnerable children, adults and victims of domestic abuse, and those working with the homeless and rough sleepers.
- Defence, prisons and probation staff, and judiciary.
- Frontline benefits workers.
- Other groups of critical workers, including those delivering critical medical, energy, utility, transport and food supplies in both the public and private sector.
- Journalists
More detail around key workers eligible for testing can be found at the following link:
Required ID:
- Key workers attending the drop-in session will need to bring their work ID with them to access the service.
- Household members will need to be accompanied by a key worker with their work ID.
- A smartphone is also recommended as this is part of the process that you will have to go through once you are on site.
This follows the launch of the 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 PCR 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.
The 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.
All key workers that want a test whether or not they display symptoms should have a test if they want one. Indeed there is a very valid argument that the test should be compulsory to protect there fellow workers and patients/residents/customers.
OOPs should be their !!!
I’ve been contacted for a test, however, I don’t have any symptoms.
If all key workers were tested regardless of symptoms would that be a better idea?, why wait for symptoms?..
Un bloody believable Alan, I tell you what,why dont we get everyone chipped,make it compulsory, then we can know who’s not well and keep away from them. Do you really realise what you are saying!? Its fools like you that, will give away any of your civil rights to be saved. FROM WHAT! Do some research, look at the facts,not what your fed. We will have no freedom at all if we go down that route. Lets see how many sheep agree with you, as I’m voted down. Shame on you.
Heres a vote down to get you started
Baaaaaaaaaaa
Mr justice How you come to your interpretations of my statement is what is unbelievable as well as demonstrating a level of arrogance that I find quite sad.
You people will get what you deserve!
I hope you get what you. deserve
IDIOT
why is it only there for a very short time, surely the key workers deserve a test centre to be set up and left in place until the risk is over .that’s the least that should be done, after all we all owe them more than we can ever repay them all.
I agree. Only there for a few days? What happens if you develop symptoms later?
All that hype about we are getting one on the Island, councillors and MP saying how good they are in organising it But again total lack of truth from them it’s only here for for 4 days so what happens after that are we again expected to travel to Portsmouth or Gatwick.
Yet again Island is being abandoned! Goes to prove just how much our wanderful councillors and MP think of our key workers and fantastic Nurses.
I am totally disgusted with them
4 days? less one day to set up, one day to dismantle… = 2 days. Or setup the day before and dismantled the day after ?
Yes christopher
Ill never ever listen to a word our so called MP. says again just full of crap that comes out of the wrong hole
I’m disgusted with them too. I am in the clinically vulnerable group, so in the 5th week of self isolation, and received no free weekly food parcels, as promised by the government. No friends , family or neighbours who can help with shopping. I’m sure I am not the only person this has happened too.
They had better open up KFC drive-thru next then!!
Great I’m a key worker so I’m working. Bit short notice to arrange cover. Clues in the name “ key worker”. 4 days? This is one key worker that won’t be there. Thanks a lot
That is harsh.
I’m a key worker that wants to be tested but can’t because of the timing. Please explain how this is harsh? I can’t be the only one
If you’re in the eligible group for testing ie you have shown symptoms within the last 5 days-or someone you live with has, it means you’re self isolating for 7 days at the moment anyway-so you shouldn’t be at work?
I wonder how many tests they expect to complete ? If it’s anything like the nationwide announcement, all slots will now be booked….
I thought that according to the government farmers are also key workers but there is no sign of them being mentioned about being tested. As per usual they’ve been put on the back burner and they are trying to Produce food for our nation.
Only 4 days, that’s pathetic. Is the virus going to clear up and be gone in 4 days? NO, so what do we, the key workers do after that? Travel to the mainland…. If a person has symptoms surely they should not leave their home and travel as this could result in the spread of the virus! Bloody hell, I don’t know who’s running this show but it hasn’t been very well thought out. I would say it’s a joke but in this instance it really is not funny. Thanks for nothing Tory government and councillors.