Coronavirus testing centre to be opened at Edgbaston Cricket Ground

A coronavirus testing centre is to be opened at Edgbaston Cricket Ground.

Work is underway to construct the drive-through unit for NHS workersin a car park at the home of Warwickshire Country Cricket Club inBirmingham.

NHS England said the centre, on Edgbaston Road, would be used toquickly test NHS staff for COVID-19 while they remained in theirvehicles.

It comes after mounting criticism of the lack of testing of NHSworkers. Figures for England revealed just 5,000 out of around 500,000frontline staff had been tested so far.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced plans for 100,000 tests-a-day to be conducted by the end of April. Credit: PA

The news came as Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced plans for100,000 tests-a-day to be conducted by the end of April.

The new target - announced in the daily Downing Street briefing -includes swab tests, which are already in use, and blood tests, whichare yet to be launched.

The number of people with the virus who have died in the UK has risenby 569, taking the total to 2,921 as of 5 pm on Wednesday, April 1.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has issued a video message declaring hehas been saying “for weeks and weeks” that testing is “how we willunlock the coronavirus puzzle”.

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