Yahoo News Coronavirus: Edinburgh airport drive-thru testing centre opens - but staff aren't wearing protective gear
A drive-through coronavirus testing centre has opened at Edinburgh Airport for key workers - amid claims that staff at the site are not being provided with protective masks or gloves.
Front-line NHS staff will be the first to be offered PCR swabs to identify whether they have the virus as part of government attempts to increase COVID-19 testing - with public access “strictly forbidden”.
The Edinburgh Airport testing centre is being operated in partnership with Sodexo, with Boots medical staff administering some tests, while others are being self-administered.
However, concerns have been raised about a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff at the centre.
The area is split up into five lanes, marked with traffic cones, and prefab buildings have red signs warning 'keep windows closed' in front of them.
On the first day of testing, it was claimed less than 20 people were booked in - with a concerned source claiming staff had not been provided with gloves or masks.
The source said: “Workers have just been told to step back from car windows, they don’t think gloves or masks are needed.
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“The virus could be in the air. I don’t really feel comfortable about it. I'm quite concerned.
“It closed at 4pm yesterday, there were less than 20 people booked in. It takes about 20 minutes to test each person. They drive out then get a certificate saying they’ll get the results.”
Nose and throat tests are performed through a car window - but if a 'priority' key worker is feeling too unwell to drive, a family member is permitted to drive them.
NHS staff are then instructed to self-isolate at home until the result is sent by text in 72 hours.
Yahoo News has approached the UK Government Scotland Office for comment.
The testing site is the latest facility to be set up across the UK to check key staff and identify if they currently have the virus - with a further two Scottish sites open at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports.
A spokesman for Boots said: “We feel incredibly proud to be supporting Covid-19 testing for critical workers in Edinburgh.
“Boots has been at the heart of UK healthcare for 171 years and has always come forward to support the community in times of need.
“Our team in Edinburgh is no exception.
“Some of our colleagues have already stepped forward to volunteer to run this Covid-19 testing station, which will start testing its first critical workers today.”
Scottish secretary Alister Jack said: “This new testing centre at Edinburgh Airport, which is funded by the UK Government, will help key workers continue to do their life-saving work and look after those who need it most.
“The UK Government has committed to expand our testing capacity right across the UK and this new centre is now one of three in Scotland.
“We will continue to work for everyone in the UK to save lives and protect our NHS.”
