The military have begun testing key workers from across the Isle of Wight at the COVID-19 drive-through testing station in Newport this morning (Saturday).
Dozens of cars have already passed through the mobile testing facility, which will now remain open until at least Monday afternoon – not Tuesday as previously announced. Around 100 people have booked in so far.
Signs direct those arriving at the 1Leisure Medina car park into the testing area, where soldiers are on hand to carry out the test procedure. Individuals are passed a swab, asked to carry out the test inside their vehicle before then proceeding to a final checkpoint where the completed test is handed over in a safe and controlled manner.
The military are on station between 08:30 and 15:00 each day for both those that have appointments and those who simply turn up in their cars or on foot. However, testing is only available for those eligible.
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.
“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.”
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All individuals intending to get tested are strongly advised to contact 0333 3218 865 before setting off to find out if they are eligible for testing, and to obtain an appointment, which will reduce the chance of having to wait.
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.
I thought the military had left us? Who are these?
It gets better now only 3 short days and yet our cancillors continue to say how good it is just shows they are not fit to represent us, perhaps they would like to start working from now until the end of the pandemic twelve hour shifts giving care to those in hospital and the vulnerable senior citizens in care homes who have been forgotten. These cares who are working now and not showing symptoms will have no where to go if they become unwell unless they travel to Portsmouth or Gatwick always assuming they are fit to drive and have a car.
Who are caring for the care givers
What if you do not own a smartphone?
Buy one, your life is worth that, surely?
does this also mean factory workers ?? my husband works in a factory in ryde .i work at same place but been foughload off so does this apply. xx
Can keyworkers get tested if they think mild symptoms are an infection.. ? Not sure if we have it but haven’t felt great for a while now.
My partner ,a key worker was given a code today to book appointment to be tested in newport…none left ! Ends tomorrow.what a joke.places given he can go too with few spots were Blackpool ,poole,over water long way basically.so yet again a sham not helpful for islander key workers