A new coronavirus testing facility for NHS staff has been set up near Manchester Airport.
It's understood that the drive through testing bays, situated on an airport staff car park, have been fully operational since Thursday.
Health workers were seen arriving in cars and showing their NHS ID cards before being swabbed in their vehicles.
The M.E.N revealed on Wednesday that a drive-through testing centres was being set up at the airport.
Insiders suggested it would initially test the most critical NHS staff if it gets the go-ahead, focusing on ICU nurses and other workers needed for the frontline battle against the virus.
Currently the government is ‘scaling up’ the national effort around testing for the virus, its approach to which has received widespread criticism.
Government has faced repeated criticism for the slow pace of key worker testing, an issue highlighted at the Greater Manchester mayor’s weekly press conference on the pandemic on Wednesday.
Andy Burnham repeatedly stressed that the research and development sector in the region - which is known for health innovation - was ready to support the national effort and said a testing site was needed in the region.
“Testing is central to this situation,” he said of rising case numbers, but also growing public sector absence as a result of people having to self isolate without knowing for sure whether they have the virus.
The M.E.N has contacted NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care and Manchester Airport for a response.
Drop a heart on our special map of gratitude to show your support for our NHS heroes
