Row as Tory leader calls for Army to help ramp up testing

Mobile testing units have been set up at Aberdeen’s P&J Live due to a growing coronavirus outbreak in the city.

An additional two testing facilities have been set up at the Bucksburn venue since a cluster of cases was uncovered at the weekend.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman told The P&J there would be more “if required”.

The testing units were initially set up by the British Army in April, but it was announced in July that the NHS would be taking over the operation.

Scotland’s first local lockdown was put in place in Aberdeen on Wednesday, in response to a growing cluster of coronavirus-positive patients traced through more than 20 north-east bars.

Last night a row broke out after the Scottish Conservatives new leader Douglas Ross said the Scottish Government should bring in the Army to help double testing capacity.

He laid out a five-point plan to help Aberdeen through the restrictions and “kickstart” its economy once safe.

But SNP Aberdeen South MP Stephen Flynn said it “beggars belief ” that Mr Ross was unaware of the mobile testing units already in the city – while calling for him to back calls to continue the furlough scheme, which the Tories currently plan to end in October.

“If Douglas Ross is genuine in his calls about supporting Aberdeen and ensuring a strong recovery, he will back the SNP’s repeated calls for his colleagues in Westminster to extend the furlough scheme into 2021, fix the gaps in support, and devolve key powers so Scotland can get on with the job of an investment-led recovery,” he said.

“It also beggars belief that Douglas Ross does not know that mobile testing units are already in Aberdeen at the P&J Live and that the economy secretary is already engaged with local businesses.”

Mr Ross’s other suggestions include covering losses of hospitality workers and firms and for the Scottish Government to fund an extension of the UK’s Eat Out To Help Out discount scheme when it is deemed safe to reopen.

Mr Ross called the lockdown “a further blow” to a north-east economy hit by the pandemic and oil and gas downturn.

The Moray MP said: “The decision to reintroduce these measures was from a public health standpoint and it is vital we work together to make sure Aberdeen is not left behind and local people are fully supported through this extremely difficult time that will have hit many businesses and workers hard.

“We must do all we can to keep jobs and businesses in Aberdeen safe and I urge the Scottish Government to take these proposals forward as soon as possible.”