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Services provider Sodexo is now responsible for 59 Covid-19 testing sites following the transfer of 40 more mobile testing units from the Ministry of Defence.
The units travel around the UK, increasing Covid-19 testing capacity in remote areas, in care homes and prisons, and can be set up in about 20 minutes.
Each unit has the capacity to carry out more than 400 tests a day.
Swabs are collected from the site and taken for processing in one of three mega-laboratories for results within 24 hours.
Sean Haley, regional chair of Sodexo UK and Ireland, said: “Supporting the government in increasing the testing capabilities of the UK is vital both in safeguarding the health of the nation and in getting the economy going again.
“Sodexo is playing its part and will continue to help combat this pandemic.”
Alongside the 40 mobile units, which are deployed from 10 regional sites, Sodexo operates 16 regional ‘drive-thru’ testing centres and three walk-in centres.
Sodexo staff have been training with military personnel in preparation for taking over the units.
Each unit is run by two teams, each covering a week-long period, and can be deployed anywhere in England within 12 hours.
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