Soldiers have set up camp at a Pontins holiday park as they prepare to help roll-out mass coronavirus testing across Liverpool.
The Army will spearhead a new testing scheme to ensure everybody who lives and works in Liverpool will be eligible for a test.
Squaddies are staying at the Pontins complex in Southport during their time working on the "moonshot" programme in Merseyside, the Liverpool Echo reports.
It's understood the Army will set up testing sites in a number of different locations, with saliva tests showing results in 30 minutes being carried out on anyone who wants one.
The aim of the Government trial is to ramp up testing capacity and help positive cases self isolate much sooner to stop the spread of the virus.
Armed forces were previously deployed to Merseyside during the early stages of the pandemic.
Now with the new "moonshot" testing programme launched, it is thought around 2,000 military personnel will be stationed in Liverpool.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “We will be deploying 2,000 talented Armed Forces personnel to, once again, rise to the challenges posed by Covid-19 to ensure we go above and beyond for the Liverpool community – we will have your backs throughout the trial.
“The military are uniquely placed to help with the fight against Covid-19 and remain ready to support with the mass testing initiative in Liverpool along with the additional needs of the country at this time.
Interim Executive Chair of the National Institute for Health Protection Baroness, Dido Harding said: “Mass testing has the potential to enable us to find the vast majority of people who have coronavirus, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not, and therefore dramatically enhance our ability to stop the spread of the virus.
“This first deployment of whole city testing in Liverpool is a really important step forward and is thanks to the big increase in testing capacity and our investment in new testing technologies.
“NHS Test and Trace will continue to work closely with local leaders, directors of public health and the Armed Forces to ensure Liverpool residents and workers can benefit from these advances.
“By everyone in Liverpool coming forward to get tested, and isolating if they need to, we have a real opportunity to make a massive difference."
