Tampere to start drive-in coronavirus testing

The City of Tampere will open a drive-in coronavirus testing centre on 31 August to boost the country’s coronavirus testing capacity, the national broadcaster Yle reported on Friday.

The testing point with a daily capacity of running 1,000 tests will be set up in the Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre Hall, which will remain open every day of the week.

"Drive-in testing is an effective way to collect test samples. With autumn and winter approaching, it’s absolutely great to have drive-in sampling indoors, where it is well-lit and warm" the laboratory services company Fimlab’s Customer Service Director Anu Mustila told Yle

The venue’s Hall C works well as a drive-in point, as separate entrances and exits can be arranged to ensure a smooth workflow, the Yle report quoted the centre’s Events Director Hannele Nuotio as saying.

The testing centre will work usually like any other Fimlab testing points and patients must have a referral for the test and need to book test time in advance.