Drivers who showed up at the Doxford Park site in Sunderland in hopes of getting tested for the coronavirus said there was no one there to clean them (Tom Wilkinson/PA)
Dozens of others who booked a coronavirus checkup in England found a place without Thursday, while others faced long queues and were rejected as the formula struggled to cope with growing demand.
About 50 cars were parked at the Doxford Park checkpoint in Sunderland, just hours after the announcement that the city would be subject to local Covid-19 restrictions in an effort to combat emerging infection rates in parts of the Northeast.
But those waiting to be tested on Thursday afternoon found themselves without tents or other infrastructure, without staff to seal them and without officials to what had happened.
About 50 cars were parked at Sunderland control (Tom Wilkinson/PA)
Heavy vehicle mechanic Brad Cockburn took the afternoon off without pay to make a 160km drive from Bedale, North Yorkshire, to the out-of-town business park site.
The 28-year-old told PA news agency, “There’s no organization, it’s mediocre functionality as ever. “
Mr. Cockburn’s employer reserved the check for him because he felt he had flu-like symptoms and now he can’t repaint until they give him the green light.
“They intend to put those things in place so that other people can paint again,” he added.
“Now they have all those other people coming in combination here and no one to review them. “
Money and carry boss Rob Reid of Sunderland, among those who booked a coronavirus check and went to the site, only to notice that no swabs were available.
The 58-year-old said, “I’m involved with my fitness and it turns out the government isn’t that involved when they take reservations at the NHS and there’s no one here to do it. “
Mr. Reid among dozens of others looking to have a coronavirus checkup (Tom Wilkinson/PA)
When some other driving force asked him how he felt, he simply replied, “Stressed. “
Elsewhere, those looking to take a check in Lewisham, south London, faced scenes of “absolute pandemonium” and “chaos,” according to a user who refused.
Henry Bull, 29, said he traveled about 8 kilometres from his home in Peckham to his nearest check in Lewisham after making an appointment online because he had a cough.
“I cycled there for about 10, 15 minutes before my appointment time and there was absolute chaos,” he told PA.
“The total crossing is blocked by cars queuing in, by car drivers who leave and scream to get out of the way.
“During this time, once you’re on the site, no one has earned the QR code you want to try. “
Bull said there were “a lot of very angry people” yelling at each other and the staff, while a woman who queued for four hours broke down in tears after learning they wouldn’t see her.
“A pretty terrible and stressful scenario to be honest, many other very annoying people, many of whom have Covid, which exposes many of us to infection,” he added.
Mr Bull said they had asked everyone to leave without getting tested and didn’t know what he would be like now to take the test.