Coronavirus: Testing facility for Covid-19 in Portsmouth set to 'open later this week'

The NHS England site at Tipner West, off the M275, will have capacity to test up to 400 care and NHS workers a day when fully operational.

As reported, the site will be one of 50 regional centres in the UK.

Portsmouth Water has supplied a permanent water connection to the land, owned by Portsmouth City Council and formerly a lorry over-spill facility for use under a no-deal Brexit.

It has put in the work so that the ‘testing site can open later this week,’ chief executive Bob Taylor said.

Mr Taylor said everything had been provided free of charge after he heard the NHS planned to use water bowsers on the site.

He said: ‘Once we were made aware of the new testing site being earmarked for Tipner we quickly asked ourselves what we could do to help.

‘Initially the site planned to use water bowsers but we thought we could do better and we engaged our resources quickly to find a better and more resilient solution.

‘Our network maintenance teams have been working round the clock to get the infrastructure in place so the testing site can open later this week.

‘This has all been done by us free of charge and is just our way helping the community.’

The supply means toilet blocks and temporary cabins will have water, and workers will be able to wash their hands.

The Covid-19 testing site will not be open to the public.

There are calls for greater testing of NHS workers to ensure those without the virus do not need to be off work.