[ad_1]
Boots plans to roll out a new coronavirus testing service that it says can deliver results in just 12 minutes.
The drugstore chain said LumiraDX swab tests will cost £ 120 and will be available in select stores in the coming weeks.
The chain has also launched a 48-hour trial service in 10 stores in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and plans to roll it out to more than 50 outlets across the country.
The latest coronavirus news from the UK and around the world
Boots is launching 12-minute COVID tests
Boots UK Managing Director Seb James said the new tests are aimed at “easing pressure” from the NHS and the government.
He told Sky’s Ian King Live that the tests are for people who have no symptoms.
They are not yet accepted by airlines that require a negative COVID-19 test before allowing a passenger to board.
This is because the results are processed through a machine in the store rather than a registered lab.
There is hope that the coronavirus However, airlines will accept the test in time, James added.
The accuracy of the 48-hour test is better than 99% and the 12-minute test is 97-98%, he said, adding that this was “a little less accurate (than the 48-hour test) but not as much as To import “.
“It is a miracle of technology and I think it is just the beginning of how technology will help us solve this crisis.”
James said he hoped the price could be lowered in the future as more people get tested and new technology slows down the process.
:: Subscribe to the daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Customers not showing any symptoms of COVID-19 can book an in-store test through the company’s website.
Boots is among the main street businesses that have suffered as a result of the pandemic, announcing major restructuring plans at the beginning of this year.
James said that as more people realize the importance of pharmacies, Boots has a “pretty promising future,” adding: “We have no plans for any more job cuts at this time.”
