Manchester is getting four new coronavirus walk-in testing sites, including one at the former Central Retail Park in the city centre.
Residents have spotted a lot of activity at the prominent site on Great Ancoats Street in the last 24 hours.
Tents, generators, lighting and security staff have appeared on the former car park and shopping centre that was bought by the council in 2017 for £37million.
The long-term plan is for the site to be turned into a 'vibrant' new neighbourhood dominated by high-end office space.
More recently, there has been controversy over council plans to generate income by using it as a temporary car park.
Now it has been identified as the ideal spot to set up a testing site for Covid-19.
Currently, the nearest place for a test to the city centre is the Etihad stadium but that is only accessed by car.
People in Manchester can also go to a car park near the Airport as well as order home testing kits from the government.
Manchester Council has now been given the green light for four walk-in sites that should be no more than a 20-minute walk for people to get to.
The first will be outdoors at Central Retail Park, M5 6DJ, with a capacity of 290 people a day.
A pilot opening is taking place today (SATURDAY) ahead of the site going live on Tuesday, September 1.
Two indoor sites are to have pilot launches on Friday, September 4, at Abraham Moss leisure centre M8 5UF, and Denmark Road sports hall, M156FG.
And another outdoor site will have a pilot launch on Saturday, September 5, at Belle Vue spots village car park.
All will be run centrally by the Department for Health and Social Care.
It is understood local leaders have been requesting the sites for some time and got the sign off from Government this week.
There has been some complaints from residents in the Ancoats area about a lack of information over the Central Retails Park site.
It is understood locations have been chosen with enough space for social distancing and other safety measures, with as little disturbance as possible to local residents.
Not only will they give Manchester the means to do a lot more community testing, but also help with the anticipated rise in demand once university students return.
Anyone with coronavirus symptoms, however mild, will be able to take a free swab test that takes less than a minute.
The tests should be booked online as soon as symptoms begin at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.
Results should be sent by the next day.
When people book a test they will be given options of sites based on their postcode - and they will be able to select a site, including the new walk-in facilities as they get up and running over the next couple of weeks.
They will also be given information on how to reach the site and all the hygiene measures that need to be taken.
David Regan, Director of Public Health for Manchester, said: "Community testing that's easily accessible has to be at the heart of keeping this city safe.
"New walk-through facilities for local people, based on solid local knowledge all reaffirm our commitment to protecting - and empowering- those who think they may have Covid symptoms, while helping to stop the virus spreading."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson added: “We want to make accessing a coronavirus test even quicker and easier, so that everyone who needs a test can get one and we will continue to scale up our testing capacity.”
