Drive-in testing could become a common element in the future after various hospitals in Spain, including Lanzarote, have trialed the idea.
First published in Gazette Life, August 1st 2020.
Conscious of the contagion risks of waiting rooms, health officials have encouraged people to drive straight through to the testing area, where a swab is taken from the driver or passenger by a health worker in full PPE, and physical contact is kept to a minimum.
The scheme only take saliva samples for immediate PCR testing – blood samples will still have to be taken inside the hospital. People who report symptoms or are suspected contacts must attend alone (if they don’t drive, a unit will be sent to their home). However, a test is now standard before any surgical procedure, and these subjects may be accompanied.
