First Nottingham city centre Covid-19 testing hub to open near Motorpoint Arena
It is the only dedicated virus testing facility in the city centre
by Andrew ToppingPeople in Nottingham city centre who think they may have coronavirus will be able to receive tests for the first time after the city's first drive-through testing centre was created.
The facility, behind the Motorpoint Arena car park off City Link, is the first of its kind in the city and the third to be opened within the wider area.
It comes as part of the government's ambition to reach 200,000 virus tests per day by the end of May, with tracking and tracing of the virus vital as the country eases restrictions on the lockdown.
Testing for coronavirus helps the Government and scientists understand its current spread and plan how to manage the pandemic.
As capacity has increased, testing has been offered to different groups in a phased approach, prioritising NHS workers. However, the ultimate aim is that anyone who needs a test will be able to have one, if they have symptoms.
It follows similar centres at Boots HQ in Beeston and the City Hospital, however the Motorpoint Arena facility is the only Covid-19 testing site within the centre of Nottingham.
Boots set up its testing centre in Beeston at the end of March, just days after the initial lockdown was announced, in a bid to support NHS workers on the frontline.
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Nottingham University Hospitals also held a similar drive-through testing centre at the City Hospital.
The Motorpoint Arena facility is being built and coordinated by the region's clinical commissioning group (CCG) on behalf of NHS England and the Department for Health.
People who require tests have to apply via channels on the government or NHS websites, and cannot turn up at the test centre on the day without prior arrangement.
The CCG has been approached for a comment.