Coronavirus testing station to be set up at Doncaster Sheffield Airport

The site sits alongside a rapidly expanding network of testing sites being set up around the UK, and is operating on an appointment-only basis for NHS staff and other key workers.

The facility will be piloted for its first few days of operation.

It follows the launch of the government’s partnership with universities, research institutes and companies to begin the roll-out of the network of new ‘lighthouse’ labs and field testing sites across the UK, with 27 testing sites opened to date.

This aim is to provide thousands more swab tests - which are used to identify if anyone has the virus - for critical key workers, starting with NHS front line staff.

It means those who test negative for coronavirus can return to work as soon as possible, and those who test positive are able to recover.

Health Minister Lord Bethell said: “The government is rapidly scaling up the national effort to boost testing capacity for coronavirus to protect the vulnerable, support our NHS, and ultimately save lives.

“This new service will help end the uncertainty of whether NHS and social care staff need to stay at home meaning those who test negative will be able to return to work.

“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.”

Robert Hough, chairman of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: “We are proud to provide the location for a new coronavirus regional testing centre operated by the Department of Health and Social Care on the site of one of the car parks at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

“It will be used to provide the space for a drive-through testing facility for NHS staff and other key workers. We are pleased that our community at Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been chosen to provide an accessible location for the region to access a safe space for this critical testing.”