EDEL KENEALY

A drive- thru coronavirus testing centre opened at Glasgow Airport’s long-stay car park yesterday.

The 17-acre site, based in Paisley’s Abbotsinch Road, is part of a series of measures being introduced to increase testing for Covid-19.

The facility will be used to test frontline NHS staff only at this stage, and those being asked to provide swab samples will do so by appointment.

The testing centre is not open to the public.

It will operate between 10am and 4.30pm, has up to five lanes and will provide capacity for a greater number of Covid-19 tests each day.

Mark Johnston, Glasgow Airport’s managing director, said: “We are in regular contact with both the UK and Scottish governments and have offered our facilities available to support the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Glasgow Airport has the space and infrastructure capable of accommodating a large-scale testing area and we are only too happy to support in this way.

“The impact of this virus affects us all and Glasgow Airport, the wider AGS Airports Ltd group and our people will continue to support the national effort to overcome Covid-19 and stand ready to help in any way we can.”

Alister Jack, secretary of state for Scotland, said: “This new testing centre at Glasgow Airport, funded by the UK Government, will keep our frontline NHS staff doing the jobs they are trained to do, allowing those who do not have the disease to go back to work and treat those who are most in need of care.

“This is part of the UK Government’s plan to vastly expand our testing capacity as we continue to work around the clock and across the country to protect the vulnerable, support the NHS, and save lives.”

The testing cent re announcement comes a few days after Glasgow Airport confirmed it was operating a restricted service, with just 16 flights scheduled each day.

For the latest guidance on Covid- 19, visit www. nhsinform. scot