CORONAVIRUS: Drive-through testing facility will be available within ‘a few days’

The works at Rooke are expected to commence imminently, said the Government.

It added: Only patients who have been invited due to their potential exposure will be given the test. People will not be asked to leave their car but will be swabbed as they wait, having first provided the necessary validation of their appointment. The sample will then be processed in the usual way. The GHA is working hard to process tests locally by the end of March, but at the moment swabs are sent to London. GHA staff will be wearing aprons, gloves and masks/face shields.

By being tested in their own cars, people will be protected from contamination that might arise from visiting St Bernard's Hospital. Similar services have just been developed in the UK, South Korea and Germany, but this way to test people is also an innovation in Gibraltar

This is part of the preparations of the Government, the GHA and Public Health Gibraltar for a worst case scenario as we face the challenges posed by COVID-19, said the statement.

Latest Coronavirus/Covid-19 stats are as follows:

1) Number of Confirmed Cases – 1, now cleared of infection so Zero current cases

2) Number of People in Self-Isolation – 43

3) Number of People that have been tested – 45

4) Number of test results pending – 4

11-03-2020 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR