Army-run coronavirus drive-through testing unit to open for a week in Sunderland as case rate rises in city

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The site is based in Azure Court at Doxford International Business Park (SR3 3BE) and will be open for drive-through testing from Tuesday, July 21 to Thursday, July 30 – tests will take place between 10.30am and 3.30pm.

The mobile testing unit will not be open on Friday, July 24 or Monday, July 27.

Just like previous sites at Pallion Retail Park and Silksworth sports complex, it will be run in a joint effort by the armed forces and NHS England.

A temporary coronavirus mobile testing unit has been set up in Sunderland.

Essential workers and people showing symptoms of Covid-19 will not need to book tests in advance but will need to register online via the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test. Tests can also be ordered through the post.

Registering online takes roughly 10-minutes and those who are unable to do so can do so over the phone by calling 119.

Once registered, you will get a code that the mobile testing site can attach to your test so you can get your results.

Anyone driving to a test site is reminded to keep their car windows closed until the staff ask you to open them. This will help reduce the risk of transmission during the testing process itself.

The opening of the testing site comes as Public Health England announced a rise in the rate of coronavirus cases in Sunderland.

Sunderland’s case rate for the week ending Sunday, July 12 is 2.5 – up from 0.7 cases in the seven days prior.

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