Coronavirus: Drive-thru test station opens in UK car park

'Service will "quickly, safely and conveniently test people suspected of having coronavirus,' city council says

People can now get tested for coronavirus in a drive-thru centre in a Wolverhampton car park.

The station allows potential patients to get “swabbed from the comfort of their vehicle before returning home”, according to the city council.

By heading to the car park in north Wolverhampton, people can get tested for Covid-19 without ”having to enter a hospital building or their local doctor’s surgery where they might inadvertently put others at risk”.

The service will “quickly, safely and conveniently test people suspected of having coronavirus,” the City of Wolverhampton council said.

The testing centre is only available for Wolverhampton residents who have been referred by NHS 111.

John Denley, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “Individuals using the drive through facility will not leave their vehicles, so will not place others at any risk, nor will people living or working nearby be at any increased risk of infection.

“I’d like to reassure people that the risk to the general public from coronavirus remains low and that we are working with health partners at a regional and national level to do everything to ensure the people of Wolverhampton are protected.”

A man who tested positive for Covid-19 died in a hospital in the city earlier this week.

Two more residents were diagnosed with the virus on Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Wolverhampton to five, according to the council.

Mike Hastings, Director of Operations at Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “By testing people in their cars rather than inviting them into hospital sites or GP surgeries we are able to greatly reduce the risk of spreading the virus.”

The drive-thru centre is stationed in a car park to the north of the city centre off the A449.

Mr Hastings said: “It’s important to stress that this service is available by referral only. People will not be seen or tested if they turn up without a referral from NHS 111.”

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK jumped to 456 on Wednesday after the biggest single-day increase in the country to date.