Coronavirus regional testing centre to open for key workers at Etihad Stadium

The Etihad Stadium site sits alongside a rapidly expanding network of testing sites being set up around the UK

A drive-through coronavirus testing facility is to open at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium overflow car park as part of the Government’s UK-wide drive to increase testing for thousands more NHS and other key workers.

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.

This follows the launch of the Government’s partnership with universities, research institutes and companies to begin rollout of the network of new labs and testing sites across the UK, with 36 regional 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.

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..

David Regan, Manchester's Director for Public Health, said: "This is an essential part of the momentum behind the next stages for tracking and tracing the virus, so that we keep people safe, while helping staff back to work and building up our knowledge of the disease pattern."  
 
The Government has also set up a home-testing service for critical key workers, supported by Amazon's logistics network and other commercial partners.

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