Edgbaston to become home for coronavirus testing center

The Warwickshire Cricket Club has lent their Edgbaston stadium to the government authorities for the use of National Health Service (NHS) in a battle to fight against the rapidly-rising Coronavirus. The ground, which is basically a car park, will be used as a drive-through testing center for the NHS staff.

Suspected patients requiring tests will drive in through the Edgbaston Road entrance and undergo the system while in their vehicle. They will then leave via the Pershore Road exit. There is also a plan to offer the NHS staff free tickets to a Vitality Blast fixture later in the summer, the details of which will be released by the club authorities when the schedule for the 2020 season is announced.

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The United Kingdom has witnessed something of overwhelming appreciation towards the NHS staff in recent times. As the severity of the COVID-19 crisis got to have a clearer picture, many staff – some of whom are not especially well paid – have been working desperately in demanding conditions without adequate protective equipment or access to testing.

With the little immediate prospect of cricket or any of the events that usually occupy Edgbaston, the staff at Warwickshire have been looking for ways in which they could help the community through the pandemic. The offer to host a testing center was gratefully accepted by the Department of Health and Social Care and will be utilised by staff throughout the West Midlands region.

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“With our county cricket programme and conference and events business closed until May 29, our staff have been exploring various options which enable the club to keep supporting our local community during these difficult times, whether that be through making calls to our elderly members and ex-players, volunteering and by offering Edgbaston Stadium for use in the wider civil contingency effort,” Neil Snowball, the Warwickshire chief executive, said.

“Whilst it is a small part to play in the grand scheme of things, we are pleased that our stadium can be utilised to support the fantastic efforts being made by all of our NHS staff in response to the coronavirus crisis. We are also very grateful for the support that we have received in delivering this project from Patrizia and Homes England, our development partners.”