New facility expedites virus tests in just a few minutes

Emadeddin Khalil, Staff Reporter

The external medical services of the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company Seha has established in cooperation with the competent authorities the “Test Center for COVID-19” at Zayed Sports City in the capital Abu Dhabi.

The Centre has been designated for examination and detection for the new coronavirus “Covid-19”.

The test process will be conducted while examinees remain in their vehicles as a precautionary measure taken by the state to curb the spread of the virus. The Centre has four paths for vehicles through which people will undergo the test without any touch.

During a tour conducted at the Centre on Saturday, it was noticed that the Centre has divided the roads leading to it into two parts to enter its four main gates. It is said that would facilitate the entry of individuals who wish to undergo the tests and also ensure they will not be infected with the virus while they are inside the vehicles without getting off them. This also aims to avoid gatherings of individuals to curb the spread of the virus.

The test process at the new Centre is performed in two stages through two stations – “the registration station and the test station”. The whole process of test takes a few minutes from the entry until leaving the Centre without leaving the vehicles.

Examinees register using the Emirates ID card, as registration is done without touching the device, then they move to the next stage, which is the test process.

At the test station, a nurse takes a nasal swab in a single step, without any touch between the nurse and the individual sitting in the vehicle, and then exits through the way leading to the gates.

The Test Centre for COVID-19, through individuals data recorded in the registration station, informs them of the result within 6 hours. In case of the result is positive, the necessary preventive measures will be taken immediately.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces discussed with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic and international efforts being made to contain its repercussions.

This came over a telephone call His Highness Sheikh Mohamed received from the Indian leader, during which they explored paths for consolidating the strategic cooperation between the two friendly countries in addition to an array of international and regional developments of common concern.

The two sides mulled over the possibility of advancing cooperation between two countries’ entities in charge of addressing the spread of the novel virus and prospects of further contributing to the international efforts made to stem its impact on the humanitarian, health and economic fronts.

They doubled on the importance of forging head with international efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 , noting that global synergy is a must under such circumstance to put an end to the pandemic and its menacing threats to the entire world.

The Department of Health (DoH) Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), on Friday announced the launch of the country’s first drive-through testing facility for COVID-19. Located in the capital’s Zayed Sports City, UAE citizens and residents can be tested within five minutes, with results being delivered through SMS and the SEHA app. Through this initiative, the UAE has become the fifth nation in the world to implement a drive-through service, accelerating testing times for the nation’s population.

The new service will be offered for Thiqa and non-Thiqa card holders, ensuring that testing facilities are available to everyone. With a maximum of four people being tested at one time, the new system is an extension of the UAE’s commitment to ensure availability of COVID-19 testing for all. The facility will operate every day from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Equipped with world-class medical professionals and equipment, the facility will allow for average capacity 600 tests daily.