Milton Keynes MPs Ben Everitt and Iain Stewart have confirmed a pilot for a new drive through COVID-19 testing facility will launch in the city centre.
The new facility is due to commence tomorrow (19/04) and if the pilot is a success, the fully operational site will allow NHS, carers and their family members to get tested for COVID-19 as part of the Government’s plans to ramp up testing and protect health care workers.
MKFM reported earlier that new infrastructure had been set up the car park opposite the old Toys R Us unit on Grafton Street last night.
Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, commented, “I’m really pleased to be able to confirm the opening of a drive through coronavirus testing facility in Milton Keynes."
“We are making sure our wonderful health care workers who put their lives on the line for us every single day are absolutely priorities to get tested and this is making sure they are getting put first."
“I can’t thank NHS, social care workers and so many others in the health industry enough for all their hard work at such a difficult time and I’m pleased local workers here in MK will be able to benefit from extra testing.”
Iain Stewart, the MP for Milton Keynes South, said, “This will be an important additional facility to help monitor the spread of the disease and help us return to normal at the appropriate time."
“Our health care workers are rightly getting prioritised for testing to ensure their safety as they work to keep us safe on the frontline.”
The Government has also announced an extended list of key workers who can tested for coronavirus.
These include:
- police, fire and rescue services
- local authority staff, including those working with vulnerable children, adults and victims of domestic abuse, and those working with the homeless and rough sleepers
- defence, prisons and probation staff, and judiciary
- frontline benefits workers.
