Coronavirus Universities roll out mass testing
THE University of Bristol opened two mass testing centres yesterday in an attempt to reduce the risk of students spreading Covid-19 to their families when they go home for Christmas.
It comes as rapid coronavirus tests are being rolled out in the city for the student population ahead of the Christmas period.
The test centres are based at Wills Conference Centre in Stoke Bishop and the Richmond Building at the University of Bristol Students Union in Clifton.
They are open to all students at the university who aren’t showing signs of coronavirus.
It will be open for 10 days, and manned by third and fourth year medical students, as well as some staff.
Students will need to book two tests, a few days apart. The results are processed at the university and students will receive their result on the day of their test.
The mass testing procedure – called lateral flow antigen testing – is designed for people who are asymptomatic.
Anyone with symptoms is advised to follow the normal procedure of booking a test online.
Mass testing has been put in place by the university ahead of the Government’s “student travel window” which is from Thursday until December 9.
Paul Smith, the university’s director of estates, told the Post students must book a test online, or they will be turned away.
“A test takes 20 minutes,” he said, “and students must wear a face mask when they arrive.”
Upon arrival, students will be asked to register and then follow signs into the testing centre, where they will be asked to step into a booth. These have been
supplied by Bristol City Council, and are the same ones used at polling stations.
According to Professor Caroline Relton, chair of the university’s Covid response group, the test involves a mouth and throat swab which will be dropped into a tube and passed through a perspex screen where it will be taken off for testing.
“Students will get their results back in a couple of hours,” she said, “because we want to avoid students waiting around.
“They will then have to come back three days later for a second test. If they test positive students should self isolate and book a coronavirus test like you would in
the normal procedure.
“We don’t want those who tested positive in the lateral test to travel, so the mass testing period gives enough time for students to isolate and still go home for Christmas.”
Caroline said lateral flow antigen testing is a “quick and cheap” method of testing young people, however, it does have limitations.
It’s less sensitive at picking up positive cases than the usual PCR test.
It comes as the University of the West of England (UWE) announced it has turned its Centre for Sport at the Frenchay campus into a temporary test centre.