Coronavirus: Testing expanded to include drive-through

Coronavirus testing arrangements are being expanded across Scotland to include a range of methods such as contained areas at health centres and home and drive-through testing.

NHS Lothian is the latest health board to introduce a drive-through style, where patients with mild symptoms drive to a contained area of the hospital for testing – allowing them to avoid public transport or walking.

Other boards are running community testing, which allows people to be checked in their own home where appropriate.

This involves staff from public health teams attending their homes in protective suits to provide tests and offer advice to anyone displaying symptoms.

The announcement follows the an update from the Scottish Government, which confirmed 500 tests have been carried out in Scotland with no results returning as positive.

Chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said: “Although all test results have come back negative so far, it is only a matter of time before there is a positive case in Scotland.

“Our priority is to ensure testing facilities are available across Scotland, so we have asked health boards to explore options for people in their area depending on their needs. Methods of testing will be different depending on factors like population and geography.

“Scotland is well-prepared to deal with coronavirus. We need the public to help contain spread by keeping themselves informed of the latest health and travel advice, and taking basic hygiene precautions such as hand-washing, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and binning the tissue straight away.”

Testing arrangements by health board

NHS Ayrshire & Arran

Contained testing at a healthcare facility.

NHS Grampian

Drive-through testing at a healthcare facility with plans to expand into community testing.

NHS Orkney

Contained testing at a healthcare facility on-site and community testing in place.

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

Contained testing at a healthcare facility on-site and community testing in place.

NHS Lanarkshire

Community testing team in place.

NHS Tayside