V&A Waterfront to offer drive-through COVID-19 testing facility

The V&A Waterfront will now offer visitors of all ages the convenience of a drive-through COVID-19 testing facility. The Waterfront, in partnership with Dis-Chem, is set to launch the new facility on Saturday 24 October.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE V&A WATERFRONT’S DRIVE-THROUGH FACILITY 

For ease of use, the facility will operate between 9:00 and 16:00 from Monday to Friday, and between 9:00 and 14:00 on Saturday. Extended hours and Sunday’s are planned for December. The COVID-19 testing facility will be located at Battery Park in the V&A’s Canal District, with entrances via Alfred Street and Dock Road. 

According to a statement, the facility will be open to any adult or child of any nationality, with the requirement that one must produce an identity document or passport. All patrons should also wear a mask at the site. Dis-Chem trained Nursing Practitioners will undertake the Nasopharyngeal swab tests. The lab results will then be linked to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) database.

Explaining the V&A Waterfront’s involvement CEO David Green said; “Our drive-through COVID-19 testing facility represents another weapon in our arsenal against COVID-19. In the fight against the pandemic we need to make it easier for people to be tested.”

“It’s vital for us, and for our city’s economy, that our retail, hospitality and leisure services can resume safely. Since the beginning of the lockdown we’ve scaled up our use of technology and other examples of this include our click and collect drive-through shopping solutions and our contactless parking payment.”

HERE’S HOW YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR RESULTS 

COVID-19 Results will be out the day after the test has been conducted. These will be communicated by email and SMS. The customer is advised to print the physical certificate at home or at their hotel for travelling purposes. All results are also automatically communicated to the NICD.

Each swab test will cost R850 and payment should be made by either credit or debit card. At this stage, the test is not covered by medical aid providers as their rules all differ currently. Anyone visiting the V&A specifically to do the test will also not be required to pay for parking. To prevent backlogs, visitors are requested to pre-register online via Dis-Chem, however, walk-ins will be permitted to register on-site. 

Those wishing to use the V&A Waterfront drive-through service will need to prebook here.