PRESTWICK airport is now operating as a cornavirus testing hub.
The UK Government department of health has announced the airport, which has seen a decline in usage over the last few years, will now be a drive-through site for testing.
It is the sixth such facility to be set up in Scotland, with others in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Perth and Inverness. A further 49 are open across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Thsoe visiting the site will be able to take their own swab tests, or receive help in taking them with results expected within several days.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “This new UK Government-funded testing site at Prestwick Airport will help key workers in the area continue their vital work, helping to look after those who need it most. This new centre means that six drive-through centres are now operating in Scotland, as well as 13 mobile units run by the army.
"The UK Government is expanding our COVID-19 testing capacity right across the UK.”
Westminster Health Minister Lord Bethell said the opening of the Prestwick facility was part of the government's efforts to "rapidly scale up" capacity for tests.
He said: "The UK Government continues to rapidly scale up the national effort to boost testing capacity for coronavirus to protect the vulnerable, support our NHS, and ultimately save lives.
“This is a national effort and we are proud to be working with a number of partners to turn this ambition into a reality and roll out additional capacity to where it is needed.”
Professor John Newton, National Coordinator for the UK Coronavirus Testing Strategy, said: “This is another opportunity to making testing easily available to anyone who needs it. Sites like this allow people who develop symptoms to quickly get a test and find out whether they need to stay at home with their household or can safely return to work or more normal life.”
“This whole programme has been a great example of collaboration between industries and businesses with the public sector to build the capability needed to protect the population from coronavirus.”
A Prestwick Airport spokesman said: " We are delighted to be able to support the Department of Health and Social Care to provide a testing facility at the airport”.
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