Tottenham have shared the first public images of the new life-saving coronavirus testing facilities they have installed at their new stadium to help the NHS.
Spurs’ PR department have had a topsy-turvy fortnight, with the club initially slammed for placing their 550 non-playing staff on furlough before they reversed the decision just days later.
Now, the club have made a more positive move by turning the huge underground car park in their new stadium into a drive-through coronavirus testing and swabbing operation for NHS workers, their families and dependents.
Spurs released the first images of the testing facilities on Wednesday, with a worker clad in PPE standing at the window of a car to conduct a test.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has become the first Premier League ground to be used for testing, while other sporting arenas are likely to follow in the coming days and weeks.
Spurs’ operation is to be used by staff and relatives of North Middlesex University Hospital, with around 70 tests per day set to be accommodated by 10 nurses between the hours of 10am and 2pm on Monday to Friday.
Other areas of the stadium are also being used in the fight against coronavirus, with North Middlesex relocating its women’s outpatient services to the hospital to free up space for coronavirus treatment at their usual base.
That also redirects pregnant women away from the hospital during the pandemic, while the stadium’s NFL away changing room is now a maternal day unit.
The area of the stadium just off the players’ tunnel, where post-match TV interviews are conducted, is now a consultation and scanning room, while the away dressing room used by Premier League opponents is now a midwives’ clinical room and staff admin office
Speaking about the changes Spurs have made to their stadium to aid the fight against coronavirus, club chairman Daniel Levy said: ‘We are proud to be handing over our stadium to our wonderful NHS as we fight COVID-19 together.
‘We reached out to the NHS and the Mayor of London’s Office when the pandemic first started to explore ways in which our stadium’s facilities could be of use, so we are pleased to see this now becoming a reality.
‘I should like to commend staff at North Middlesex Hospital, along with our own Stadium Operations team, who have worked tirelessly over recent weeks to find solutions to transform our stadium for such a vital cause.’
Maria Kane, Chief Executive of North Middlesex Hospital, said: ‘We are so grateful to Tottenham Hotspur for providing their wonderful facilities for our staff, patients and local community during these difficult times.’
source: all football news
