This article was originally posted by the Derry Journal and can be found at https://www.derryjournal.com/news/people/confirmed-new-covid-testing-facility-nhs-staff-will-open-derry-week-department-health-2539720.

The Department of Health have now confirmed that a second COVID-19 testing facility for NHS health care workers will be opened at City of Derry Rugby Club this week.

The move - confirmed officially for the first time by the Department of Health this evening (Wednesday) - is now expected to see testing ramp up locally.

Derry’s will be the second major test facility set up in Northern Ireland, after the first opened two weeks ago at SSE Arena Belfast.

A Department of Health spokesperson: “The SSE Arena facility complements staff testing work undertaken by Trusts (including use of MOT centres).

“The SSE Arena facility is part of an NHS-wide testing initiative for staff. A second facility is opening at City of Derry Rugby Club this week as part of this initiative.”

The move is expected to be welcomed by many working in the health profession, but concerns remain over private sector health care workers.

The spokesperson added: “We are actively exploring ways to increase testing in a number of areas, including independent sector and domiciliary care providers and key workers in other agencies.

“We are also exploring using testing capacity for Covid-19 surveillance in the community.”

Brendan McDaid
Wednesday, 15th April 2020, 6:26 pm