Cambridge coronavirus testing site to open at Milton Park & Ride
A drive-through coronavirus regional testing facility is to open in Cambridge.
Milton Park & Ride will become part of the government's UK-wide drive to increase testing.
It will be added to the existing network of testing sites around the country, with the facility piloted for its first few days of operation. It is set to start testing on Friday (June 5).
Previously, the nearest drive-through testing facility was at Stansted Airport.
Dr Gary Howsam, chair of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “We are pleased that a new regional testing site is being rolled out on the edge of Cambridge to help make it as easy as possible for local people who are showing symptoms of Covid-19 to get tested.
“I would like to thank all of the partners who have worked hard to set the site up and those who will run it going forward.”
The testing centre is being operated in partnership with G4S and will offer assisted and self-administered tests. Those tested will receive their results within a few days.
Anyone who tests positive will be asked to confirm who they have had close contact with as part of the government’s test and trace programme at https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk. These contacts will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days.
Gordon Brockington, G4S director, said: “We are proud of our important role in setting up and managing this Covid-19 testing site, and other similar sites across the UK. It has been inspiring to see the enthusiasm of our employees to step up and support the government, our health services and the public during this crisis.”
A Boots UK spokesperson said: “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 Cambridge is no exception. Some of our colleagues have already stepped forward to volunteer to run this Covid-19 testing station, which will start testing essential workers and people with symptoms of coronavirus on Friday, 5 June.”
Anyone experiencing a new, continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of or change in their normal sense of smell or taste can book an appointment on the NHS website or by calling 119 to be tested for whether they currently have coronavirus.
Professor John Newton, national co-ordinator for the UK Coronavirus Testing Strategy, said: “This is another opportunity to making testing easily available to anyone who needs it.
“"Sites like this allow people who develop symptoms to quickly get a test and find out whether they need to stay at home with their household or can safely return to work or more normal life.
“This whole programme has been a great example of collaboration between industries and businesses with the public sector to build the capability needed to protect the population from coronavirus.”
The government has set up 56 regional test centres and 116 mobile testing units, and introduced home-testing kits and three Lighthouse laboratories.
Health minister Lord Bethell added: “The government continues to rapidly scale up the national effort to boost testing capacity for coronavirus to protect the vulnerable, support our NHS, and ultimately save lives.
“This is a national effort and we are proud to be working with a number of partners to turn this ambition into a reality and roll out additional capacity to where it is needed.”
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