No asymptomatic Stirling students tested positive in programme
No asymptomatic Stirling students tested positive for Covid-19 as part of the prechristmas testing programme.
All students were asked to take a voluntary test before returning home for the festivfe season.
A total of 2730 tests were carried out over 16 days with no positive cases reported.
Stirling began the mass Covid testing of asymptomatic students at the beginning of December. Students returning home were encouraged to voluntarily take two quick turn-around“lateral flow tests”three days apart.
The testing was part of a nationwide programme to screen all students before the mass exodus home for Christmas.
The rapid tests - which were self-administered - returned results within an hour. If both tests were negative students were to travel home as soon as possible after the second negative test.
Should an asymptomatic student have tested positive, they would have been asked to self-isolate. But it would seem this did not need to happen.
A Stirling University spokesperson said:“the uptake of asymptomatic Covid-19 testing for students ahead of the winter break was excellent with 2370 tests conducted over 16 days. No positive tests were detected and we are pleased that we have been able to support students in returning safely to their family homes for the festive period.
“By participating in the no symptoms testing programme, and ensuring they have two negative test results before beginning their journey, our students are acting responsibly and in the interests of not only their own health and safety, but that of their family, friends, and the wider public.
“The asymptomatic test centre will reactivate early in 2021 to support students returning to campus, in line with the latest Scottish Government and public health guidance.”
An update was given to the
NHS Forth Valley board on Tuesday, December 15 by the health board’s director of public health and strategic planning Dr Graham Foster.
He said cases within the student population this semester had been lower in Stirling than other larger student cities.
“NHS Forth Valley staff from the health protection team have worked closely with Stirling University.
“Although there have been cases in halls of residences and in private flats we did not see the large number of cases and requirement for self-isolation observed in some of the larger cities.”
The health board has worked closely with the university throughout the pandemic.
A spokesperson for NHS Forth Valley said:“we have worked very closely with staff from the university throughout the pandemic and a wide range of measures are in place across the campus to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“These measures have been very successful in reducing the overall number of cases and preventing further spread when positive cases have been identified.
“The recent use of lateral flow Covid-19 tests has also been very successful and has supported arrangements for students to return home safely for the festive period.”