The range of uses for shipping containers has been growing considerably over the last few years. Around the world, they have provided emergency housing and school buildings, and in the UK, they’ve provided the setting for pop-up cafes, shops, bars and restaurants.
In fact, personalised shipping containers are an increasing presence in our towns and cities. One new use for shipping containers that few people saw coming was the role they could play in the fight against Covid-19.
A Versatile & Readily Available Solution
It may come as a surprise to learn that hundreds of thousands of people across the world are being tested daily for Covid-19 at a testing centre made entirely from shipping containers, rather than a dedicated hospital or GP setting. Shipping containers have shown themselves to be a versatile, cheap and ready solution when it comes to overcoming problems of capacity.
In the past, shipping containers have already proven to be a great construction tool that can easily be re-purposed and used in a variety of combinations to create the right space for any particular task.
Shipping containers were already being used as mobile testing labs, allowing scientists and medical experts to bring testing facilities to where they were needed with speed and reduced cost. As Covid-19 testing centres, they have a range of benefits that public health experts are increasingly coming to recognise.
The Advantages Of Shipping Containers As Covid-19 Testing Centres
The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed public health systems to the limit. There’s not only been the challenge of developing vaccines and therapeutics and treating those who fall ill; there has also been the logistics of testing huge numbers of people every day. Shipping containers are increasingly being used to plug the gaps in the system and expand capacity.
Here’s just a few of the reasons why shipping containers are having such a positive impact:
Shipping Containers Are Readily Available
With millions of shipping containers in use across the globe each day, it’s fair to say they are more than readily available! Not only do we have millions of shipping containers scattered across the globe, but new ones are always constantly being manufactured to meet increased cargo demands.
Shipping container suppliers such as Flintham Cabins are experienced at handling complex, last-minute logistics. Thanks to our flexible approach, we are more than capable of meeting the tightest of deadlines, which is especially important when it comes to helping our NHS in the fight against Covid-19
As demand for testing in one area increases, containers can be moved into place in a very short period of time. If there’s a need for increased test capacity at another site, then space can be expanded further with ease, as more shipping containers can be brought in. When demand drops in an area, container numbers can be quickly scaled back.
The flexibility brought by shipping containers has made them an invaluable ally of public health planners as they attempt to meet the increasing demand for testing. As mass-testing is one means by which governments are able to tackle the spread of the virus, expanding capacity quickly and safely is vital.
Allow For Testing Sites Away From Vulnerable People
With Covid-19 being highly infectious, testing sites are best placed away from vulnerable people, such as within hospitals, care homes clinics and GP surgeries where people with underlying health conditions may be visiting. What shipping containers have enabled public health providers to do is to set-up sites in car parks, and areas away from existing healthcare settings. Shipping containers have helped to transform the way that testing has taken place, after initially being a hospital-based procedure.
Add To Existing Capacity
As testing is taking place outside of traditional healthcare settings, using shipping containers for Covid-19 testing vastly adds to existing capacity. Rooms and facilities that might be taken up for testing can be free for other key healthcare services. As one of the principal factors of concern during the Covid-19 crisis has been the possibility that health services could be overwhelmed, shipping containers used for testing act as a release valve when there are pressures elsewhere.
Easy To Keep Clean And Safe
Because shipping containers are made of steel, they are very easy to clean which is essential when dealing with Coronavirus. They can easily be sterilised and cleaned, making them entirely Covid-19 safe, and they’re much easier to clean than a room in a hospital or surgery. As a result, this means the cleaning process is quicker but no less thorough.
An Affordable Solution
The rolling out of testing capacity across the country has placed a large strain on public finances. Shipping containers are a relatively cheap way to expand testing facilities when compared to other viable methods. This makes them a sensible way to expand capacity when budgets are already under pressure.
High-Quality And Cost-Effective Solutions
Shipping containers offer a high-quality and cost-effective solution to all kinds of logistical problems, as the Covid-19 crisis has again illustrated. Their primary purpose may once have been to ship goods across the world, but increasingly their value in other settings is being appreciated.
Whatever logistical issue you’re facing, at Flintham Cabins we can help find a solution. With over 35 years providing shipping containers we’re able to meet whatever challenges come our way. Please feel free to get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements with our team of experts.
