Mobile testing hub set up on campus
Vehicles seen at drive-through facility
A drive-through coronavirus testing centre has opened at Perth College to help ensure the health and safety of key workers.
The mobile facility is situated in the Brahan car park at the college’s Crieff Road and comes as part of the UK Government’s drive to increase testing for thousands more NHS and other key workers.
Although the UK Government had still not confirmed the centre had opened, vehicles have been seen passing through this week.
Perth College UHI principal Margaret Cook said: “We are happy to play our part in fighting this international health crisis by hosting the drive-through coronavirus testing facility at our campus.
“Many of our students and staff are undertaking key worker roles at this time and it’s great to see an increase in testing being implemented to support people’s valuable work.
“We are proud to continue to consider every opportunity to help in this time of crisis, whilst taking stakeholders views into account.
“However, we are committed to use our resources - which includes our estate facilities to be socially responsible and do what we can to help both the UK and Scottish Governments’ efforts to fight the disease.”
The new facility has been welcomed by local politicians.
Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart said: “I am pleased to see Perth College UHI play their part in the fight against COVID-19.
“The drive-through testing facility will play a key role in the testing of key workers in Perth and Kinross and will ensure that we better understand the spread of the virus and control it faster.
“We know that testing is vital to understanding which key workers can continue to work and which need to self-isolate.
“Alongside this, Perth College UHI has also begun the manufacture of PPE visors, to ensure the safety of frontline workers and I congratulate them on all the work they are doing.”
Perthshire North MSP John Swinney added: “This is a significant step, and one that I’m sure will be welcomed by all across Perthshire.
“It is clear that testing has an indispensable role to play in our collective ability to respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19. Accordingly, any actions being taken to widen access to testing can only be seen as positive.”
The news was also welcomed by regional MSP Murdo Fraser, who said: “This will mean those who test negative for coronavirus can return to work as soon as possible, and those who test positive are able to recover.
“I must reserve special praise for the students and staff at Perth College UHI who have been undertaking key worker roles during COVID-19.”
To further support the fight against the virus, engineering staff at the college have been liaising with the NHS, Perth and Kinross Council and local schools to operate three 3D printers to make PPE visors for local care home staff - of which after a quality check - 100 should be ready to start distribution at the start of May, with this increasing on a weekly basis.
In addition, various departmental staff donated thousands of gloves and hundreds of aprons and masks to support local care worker’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements.