Uni sets up a daily test centre for 1500 students

A MASS coronavirus testing centre has been set up at the St Andrews University to allow students to be checked before returning home for Christmas.

It is part of a rollout of asymptomatic Covid-19 testing to students in Scotland before the festive break.

They are invited to take the free self-administered tests, which involve swabbing the back of the throat and inside the nose, overseen by the university’s third-year medical students.

Results of the lateral flow tests are known within 30 minutes and students will receive an email or text within 24 hours telling them whether they have tested positive or negative for Covid-19.

If these come back positive, students will be asked by NHS Test and Protect to take a further type of test at the centre to confirm the result and should then self-isolate.

The facility in St Andrews has capacity for 1500 students to be tested each day.

Alastair Merrill, vice-principal for governance at the university, said all students who are considering travelling are being g asked to take two tests, three to o five days apart.

A survey by the St Andrews Students’ Association found 80 per cent are planning to go home over Christmas.

Emma Walsh, the student union’s wellbeing officer, said students have shown “resilience” e” but lots have struggled with loneliness. Emma, who will be going home to America for Christmas, said: “I don’t know if I would be going back if I didn’t have the testing centre access here so it’s a great thing to have.”