Sofitel St James to be first central London hotel to launch Covid testing hub
Sofitel London St James is set to be the first hotel in central London to provide space and facilities for Covid-19 testing on-site.
Launching on 29 March, UK biotech firm HALO will be setting up and managing a testing hub at the hotel, which will allow hotel guests, local businesses and members of the general public who live or work nearby to access saliva-based testing in-person or via door-to-door delivery.
In addition to an existing ‘Test & Rest' package where hotel guests can book an overnight stay together with a HALO test, the 183-bedroom property will be providing the wider community with access to centrally located testing facilities.
Marie-Paule Nowlis, general manager at Sofitel London St James, said: "In the spirit of communities coming together at this important time, we are proud to be able to offer on-site testing for Covid-19 at the Sofitel London St James. Not only will this facility be available to our guests and business travellers but to those living and working in the areas near our hotel. It is important that we all look to what we can do to help others and I hope that the availability of our testing hub will assist those in the local community hoping to get back to normality."
Alistair Ruffett, head of operations at HALO, added: "The opening of our Covid-19 testing hub at the Sofitel London St James is a great step forward to creating greater access to non-invasive saliva-based tests for the Central London community. We will now be able provide almost 100% accurate tests in person or facilitate close door-to-door delivery with results being made available within 24 hours, with the potential for certain results being accessible within 90 minutes."
The hub will use two types of saliva-based Covid-19 tests - PCR and LAMP - both of which are almost 100% accurate, with prices starting at £49.99. Results from PCR tests are usually available within less than 24 hours, while LAMP tests can potentially be conducted within 90 minutes, and processed onsite.
After taking a test, users can track its progress via the HALO app and notifications will be provided when the test is received, processed and when the result is ready. Users will receive a verification certificate with results that can be downloaded or stored for proof of a test.
