Switzerland opens first drive-through coronavirus testing centre
The central Swiss canton of Lucerne will open the first drive-through testing centre for coronavirus in the country.
The drive-through screening facility will open in Lucerne on Wednesday at the Alpenquai cantonal school.
Those concerned will not simply be able to drive up and ask for a test however as a prior referral from a doctor will be necessary.
Drivers receive a mouth swab from an employee of the testing facility through an open window of the car. The tested person will not need to leave the vehicle.
The drive-through facility lets ten tests be taken per hour, rather than just one as is the case in existing hospital facilities. Results are set to be available in a day.
The risk for medical professionals is also lower with drive-through testing.
The State Chancellery has lauded the new regime, saying it is the “first major inpatient test option outside of hospitals”.
While drive-through testing has been put in place elsewhere such as in South Korea and the United States, the Lucerne drive-through centre is the first of its kind in Switzerland.
Although the canton of Bern indicated on March 16th that it also be opening a drive through testing facility from March 23rd, Swiss daily 20 Minutes reports that this centre has been delayed.
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The drive-through screening facility will open in Lucerne on Wednesday at the Alpenquai cantonal school.
Those concerned will not simply be able to drive up and ask for a test however as a prior referral from a doctor will be necessary.
Drivers receive a mouth swab from an employee of the testing facility through an open window of the car. The tested person will not need to leave the vehicle.
The drive-through facility lets ten tests be taken per hour, rather than just one as is the case in existing hospital facilities. Results are set to be available in a day.
The risk for medical professionals is also lower with drive-through testing.
The State Chancellery has lauded the new regime, saying it is the “first major inpatient test option outside of hospitals”.
While drive-through testing has been put in place elsewhere such as in South Korea and the United States, the Lucerne drive-through centre is the first of its kind in Switzerland.
Although the canton of Bern indicated on March 16th that it also be opening a drive through testing facility from March 23rd, Swiss daily 20 Minutes reports that this centre has been delayed.
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