The British Army has set up a mobile testing centre in the car park of Albert Park, off Great Clowes Street in Broughton, which opened this morning and is set to be active until Tuesday 12th May.
The site, set up by Salford City Council and facilitated by Albert's of Salford, is right at the epicentre of the city's epidemic (see previous Salford Star article – click here), but other possible sites in Salford could be set to follow.
By midday over two dozen cars had gone through the testing facility, which has the capacity to facilitate three hundred tests per day. People cannot just turn up at the site to be tested, and must make an appointment via the Government website.
It is for essential workers, including NHS and social care workers with symptoms; anyone over 65 with symptoms; anyone with symptoms whose work cannot be done from home (for example, construction workers, shop workers, emergency plumbers and delivery drivers); and anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus and lives with any of those identified above.
Social care workers and residents in care homes with or without symptoms are also eligible, as are all NHS workers and patients without symptoms, in line with NHS England guidance. People who fall into these categories can either refer themselves for a test or their employer can do it. For more details and to make appointments see the Government website – click here
Lieutenant Sam Marks of the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, which has already set up temporary mobile testing sites in Old Trafford, Macclesfield and Stockport, explained how the test works...
"People register online and when they've done that they receive confirmation of where to be, and following that they will receive a QR Code which we use to link them to their test.
"They come in here, we give them the test, talk them through how to do it in their car through the safety of a window; they give back the test, and we send it off to a regional testing centre where it's taken off to be analysed, and then they receive their results by text message 24 to 48 hours later.
"It's a swab at the back of the throat and then up the nose" he added "They do it themselves as our guys talk them through it on the phone...All the lads are given full PPE and they administer the test which is dropped in through the passenger side window, limiting the distance between them and the person who might potentially have it."
It's a unique role for the Army, which is usually involved in wars or humanitarian work in other countries..."We're happy to support the Government in increasing the number of tests, and we are basically here to support the NHS and facilitating more testing for the country" said Lieutenant Marks "It's hugely rewarding, the lads are doing something to help their community...doing their bit to get the country moving in the right direction...."
Meanwhile, Salford has just three new confirmed cases of coronavirus, taking the total to 858, up from 855. The low figure is probably due to the Bank Holiday and weekend. Salford Royal Hospital has announced one more sad death from the virus.
Manchester now has 1,302 cases, Stockport 951, Wigan 962, Oldham 915, Bolton 881, Trafford 673, Rochdale 648, Bury 633 and Tameside 531.
Photos by Louise Garman
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