Mass testing for students at Christmas
M a s s t e s t i n g o f s t u d e n t s planning to head home for Christmas will begin at the end of the month at some Scottish universities.
Edinburgh and St Andrews universities have announced plans to offer voluntary covi d t e s t s t o s t u d e n t s f r o m November 30.
The Scottish Government is working with universities across the countr y and the U K G ove r n me n t ’s t e s t i n g programme to offer free lateral flow testing, which can provide results in 30 minutes.
Announcing plans for the testing programme at the S c o t t i s h P a r l i a m e n t l a s t week, higher education minister Richard Lochhead said students are being recommended to take t wo tests, five days apart.
Those with a positive result will then have the more sensitive PCR test, used in the ma i n c o r o n av i r u s t e s t i n g programme, for confirmation.
He said the lateral flow tests will be offered on a “volun
tary basis to all students who are returning home”.
Those who test positive will be asked to self-isolate, as will their close contacts.
The University of Ed inburgh is urging any students wishing to travel home in the UK for the winter break to get tested, particularly those with vulnerable family members or who plan to use public transport.
Two testing centres are being set up and will be open from 10am to 8.30pm from November 30 to December 9, meaning even those who require to self-isolate should be able to return home “in time for the winter break”.