New Aberdeen walk-through covid testing site has opened
The centre is based in the University of Aberdeen's Roy Strathdee Building - tests must be pre-booked and you must have symptoms to book.
Last updated 24th Sep 2020
A new walk-through centre for coronavirus testing has opened in Aberdeen today.
The UK Government facility is based at the University of Aberdeen at the Roy Strathdee Building.
If you are displaying symptoms you can pre-book a test, but you cannot show up with having pre-booked.
The location was chosen as to be easily accessible without a car, with some people struggling to reach the current site next to Aberdeen airport.
UK Government Health Minister Lord Bethell said:
“We continue to expand testing to make sure that everyone with symptoms can get a test, with our new walk-in sites making it even easier no matter where you live.
“This new site forms part of our national testing network, which has the capacity to test more than a million people a week and is growing all the time.
“If you have symptoms of coronavirus, I urge you to book a test today and follow the advice of contact tracers if you are contacted to protect others around you and stop the spread of the virus
“This is a national effort and we are proud to be working with a number of partners to turn this ambition into a reality and roll out additional capacity to where it is needed.”
Baroness Dido Harding, Interim Executive Chair of the National Institute for Health Protection, said:
“Our new walk through sites offer communities better access to coronavirus testing, so everyone with symptoms can get a test. This new site is part of our ongoing work to expand testing across the UK to deliver 500,000 tests a day by the end of October.
“Please book a test if you have coronavirus symptoms: a new continuous cough, a high temperature and a loss or change in sense of smell or taste.
“Everybody should continue to think hands, face, space, and follow the advice of contact tracers if you are contacted – this is the only way we can return to a more normal way of life.”
UK Government minister for Scotland, David Duguid, said:
“The UK Government is committed to helping all parts of the UK fight coronavirus and providing people in Scotland with testing facilities. This new walk-through centre in Aberdeen city centre, funded by the UK Government, will play a key part in tackling the virus in the North East of Scotland, and joins our existing drive-through facility at Aberdeen Airport.
“Testing will play a vital part over the coming months, helping to manage local outbreaks and protect livelihoods. This walk-through centre will help people in Aberdeen get tested quickly"
“As I saw for myself when I toured our Inverness and Aberdeen drive-through centres this month, these sites are not possible without the hard work of many people, and I would like to thank everyone involved in getting this new centre open.”
The testing centre is being operated in partnership with Mitie and will offer self-administered tests.
Simon Venn, Chief Government & Strategy Officer, Mitie, said:
“Our priority during the pandemic is to support the nation’s efforts to fight COVID-19 and help keep the country running.
“Testing is a critical part of the UK’s strategy to combat coronavirus and we’re proud to support the Government with this vital task.
“A big thank you to all the NHS staff, Mitie employees and other frontline heroes in Aberdeen, who are working tirelessly to keep us all safe.”
Everyone with symptoms can book or order a test at nhsinform.scot/test-and-protect