VIRUS TESTING SITE IS OPEN FOR ALL

Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms can book airport drive-thru centre

Anyone in Renfrewshire experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 can now be tested at Paisley’s testing site under new guidance from the Scottish Government.

Anyone over the age of five is now eligible for an appointment at the Glasgow Airport base to be tested for the potentially deadly virus.

Previously, only over 65s, key workers and those who cannot work from home were invited for Covid- 19 testing, as well as members of their households.

The Scottish Government confirmed a higher volume of people will be expected at the Renfrewshire site, as well as all other sites across the country due to the expansion of eligibility.

However, a spokesman said measures would be put in place to manage the increased capacity.

The Express previously revealed that key workers were left waiting three hours in queues for the test at the airport site.

The waiting times were branded a

“joke” by one concerned dad whose daughter faced the lengthy queues for the test.

He claimed too many people are being asked to attend at the same time, resulting in huge queues of frontline workers waiting for hours after their scheduled appointment.

Any adult and or child over five who is symptomatic, meaning anyone with a continuous cough, high temperature or loss of taste or smell, can now book the test online.

The move is part of the government’s new Test, Trace, Isolate and Support ( TTIS) approach as the country looks towards moving out of lockdown.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said this step forward would help towards easing the lockdown.

She said: “This further expansion of testing will ensure that anyone with symptoms will be able to find out if they have Covid-19, and will therefore be able to know whether or not they should be isolating.

“As well as allowing more people to have a case of Covid-19 confirmed, the expansion will also be helpful as we build towards our strategy of test, trace, isolate and support – something that will be especially important as we start to emerge gradually from lockdown.”

Tests can be booked by visiting the Scottish Government online for anyone experiencing coronavirus symptoms.

You can also phone 0300 303 2713.

The government advice is that under- fives are less likely to be affected by Covid-19, but if you’re worried about your child’s health then you’re advised to call NHS 24 on 111.