UK MAN RECEIVES R2 000 PARKING FINE AT DRIVE-THROUGH COVID TEST

A 52-year-old man and his family went for a drive-through COVID test in North London’s Edmonton Green Shopping Centre and never got out of their car, only to receive a parking fine.

The fine amounted to £90, around R2 064.

Geoff Pugh told Sky News that he took his family for a throat and mouth swab in a car park at a shopping centre used for drive-through testing during the UK’s lockdown.

During the 23 minutes spent at the parking lot, none of the family members got out of the car and Pugh said he followed all the instructions given to him by the staff of where to drive and where to park his car.

It was a few weeks later that Pugh received the fine and only once he closely inspected it, did he realise that it was from the COVID drive-through testing.

"I think it’s completely ridiculous to charge someone for looking after the health of their family, neighbours and work colleagues."

The BBC reports that the shopping centre released a statement saying that they "were only notified that the site had been used for COVID testing more than a week later, and penalty charges were already issued."

The statement also said that fines issued to visitors incorrectly on this or any other specified date where testing is taking place would be cancelled.

Image credits: Completely Retail and SkyNews