Two major Covid-19 testing centres for key workers in South West

A new online portal for key workers across the South West to book Covid-19 tests at drive-through centres has had to temporarily close, just hours after it was launched by the Government.

As well as stopping bookings at drive-through centres, home testing kits also ran out by 8.45am, having already reached the capacity of daily demand.

The Department of Health (DoH) has said it is working to "rapidly increase availability" and testing capacity should increase in the coming days.

From today any key worker in the South West who is showing symptoms of the virus is eligible to be tested at two regional test centres:

  • BRISTOL AIRPORT - for key workers in Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire and Somerset.

  • The former SEATON BARRACKS in Plymouth - for key workers who live in Devon and Cornwall.

Bristol Airport is the regional test centre for key workers across Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire and Somerset. Credit: Visit Bristol

The government has said it wants to be carrying out 100,000 tests each day by the end of April.

Seaton Barracks in Plymouth is the regional test centre for key workers across Devon and Cornwall. Credit: ITV News

Thousands of people have been trying to access the government site today to book a test or order a home kit. Due to overwhelming demand, many were greeted with this message :

The government's website was forced to close temporarily due to 'enormous demand' Credit: Gov.uk

The government has capacity for 15,000 tests at drive-through centres for key workers every day. These are in addition to tests in hospitals for patients, and appointments for NHS and care workers.

Home testing kits are being delivered with help from Royal Mail and Amazon. The aim is for home testing kits to be delivered the following day and then results within 72 hours of completing and returning the test.