Abu Dhabi's drive-through Covid-19 testing centres now open on Fridays

The move will ensure greater access to testing services across the capital

A medic tests a passenger in the back of a taxi at the drive-through screening centre at Mina Rashid in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Staff at Dubai's Mina Rashid centre test drivers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

People wait to be tested for Covid-19 at City Walk's drive-through screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Drivers queued for at least two hours to be swabbed. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Mina Rashed screening centre manager Dr Mohanna Hasan said most people were getting tested to enter Abu Dhabi or to fly abroad. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The work is difficult in the heat as medics work their way through hundreds of cars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Drive-through Covid-19 testing centres in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain will now be open on Fridays.

The screening services were previously only in operation from Sunday to Thursday.

Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, which operates all public hospitals and clinics in the emirate, announced the expanded opening hours on social media.

The majority of the centres will be open from 10am until 8pm.

Seha said the venues in Madinat Zayed and Mifra will take tests from 8am to 7pm, while the Ghayathi centre will be operational from 8am until 10pm.

Screening centres are dotted across the capital, including in Zayed Sports City and on the Corniche.

Mass testing of the public is central to the country's efforts to limit the spread of the virus.

Many employees are required to take regular PCR tests to attend their place of work.

Proof of negative PCR test is also necessary to enter Abu Dhabi from other emirates.

More than 54 million PCR tests have been conducted across the country to date.

For more information on Seha's PCR testing services, contact them on 80050.