Fire stations are being tried out as new locations for Covid-19 testing in parts of rural Scotland.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the move – which is being piloted in Lochgilphead, Argyll, and Thurso, Caithness – could help give people “more consistent” access to coronavirus testing.
From tomorrow, people who live in either walking or driving distance of the fire stations in the towns will be able to call NHS Highland and request a test, if they have symptoms of the virus.
Testing at the fire stations will be available for three-and-a-half hours each day, Monday to Friday, as part of the pilot scheme, which runs until January 29.
People will be able to take a test themselves at both sites and leave it there for collection by a courier.
Freeman said: “With this trial, our aim is to give people with Covid-19 symptoms in these areas more consistent access to testing and to see whether this approach could be adopted across other remote and rural areas.”
