A DRIVE-THROUGH coronavirus mobile testing facility has officially opened today (Saturday) on the Isle of Wight.

However, it will only be open for three days, now closing on Monday, after a change in plans.

It is part of the government’s UK-wide drive to increase testing for thousands more NHS and other key workers.

The Island facility has been arranged through close partnership working of the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) to enable key workers having started to experience symptoms of Covid-19 within the past five days, to access local facilities, rather than having to travel to the mainland.

The mobile testing unit is visiting Medina Leisure Centre car park, on Fairlee Road, Newport, for three days until Monday, April 27.

Local organisations are being contacted directly to encourage their key workers who have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 themselves, or who have a household member who have experienced symptoms, within the past five days and are self-isolating, to contact 0333 321 8865 to obtain an appointment to visit the facility.

An Isle of Wight Council statement on the COVID-19 testing station at 1Leisure Medina said: "We have been advised that the testing station at 1Leisure Medina will be open from Saturday 25 April until Monday 27 April, not until Tuesday 28 as previously announced.

"It will be open each day from 8.30am to 3pm.

All eligible people should ring to make an appointment, but a drop-in service will be also available for those who do not have appointments. The drop-in service can be used by people in cars, or on foot.

"All users are strongly advised to contact 03333218865 before setting off to find out if they are eligible for testing, and to obtain an appointment, which will reduce the chance of having to wait."