New Exeter University covid test centre opens

Student travel window starts Wednesday

A new covid testing centres has opened at the University of Exeter’s Streatham campus to check students travelling home for Christmas.

Tests will be available to students who do not have symptoms of Covid-19 ahead of the government's student travel window from Wednesday to next Tuesday.

The test involves a throat and nasal swab that gives results within 24 hours. Testing is voluntary, but students who test positive will be unable to travel and will be required to self-isolate for 10 days in their term-time accommodation

Close contacts or members of any household who test positive will also have to self-isolate and may not travel until they get a negative test, or complete self-isolation.

In a message to students, Mike Shore-Nye, registrar and secretary at the University said: “Although the test is not mandatory, it is only by identifying and isolating positive covid-19 cases that we can safeguard the health and wellbeing of our friends, loved ones and those around us.

“Even if your results are negative, please do not drop your guard – results are only valid on the day the test is taken. Continue to follow the public health guidance on washing hands, wearing a face mask and keeping space between you and other people.”

The student travel window has been created to ensure that students who wish to go home can do so, but anyone who remains at university after 9 December risks having to isolate for 14 days if they test positive is a contact of someone who does. Teaching moves online from Thursday this week.