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Students tested for Covid at Wolverhampton and Staffordshire universities

Students at Wolverhampton and Staffordshire universities have been offered coronavirus tests before they go home for Christmas.

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A one-way system at University of Wolverhampton

People studying at Wolverhampton University were able to book tests between November 27 and Friday.

It is not yet known how many students have been tested at the universities.

Wolverhampton University Vice-Chancellor Professor Geoff Layer said: “The safety of our students, staff and the wider community has been our top priority throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We worked closely with our local authority partners in Wolverhampton, Walsall and Telford to enable testing of students to take place ahead of the Government’s student travel window.

"It is also important to note that the majority of our students live in the West Midlands region and are ‘commuter students’.

“We ensured that arrangements were in place at all our campuses for students without symptoms and who were planning to travel from their term-time address to book tests between Friday 27 November and Friday 4 November 2020.

"We asked students to remain at university until they receive their test results.

“Details and advice about the arrangements for testing was sent to students and is available on our Student News pages.

“We are continuing to encourage students with symptoms, however mild, to get tested as soon as possible and to follow the national rules around self-isolating.

"We are also supporting students who are self-isolating in university accommodation with food and laundry arrangements.

“The university will remain open throughout Christmas for the students who continue to stay in our accommodation, including international students.

"We will be making every effort to ensure the festive season is special for them and that they are supported.”

Staffordshire University took the decision to work in partnership with Public Health and other relevant authorities to ensure students have access to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests – rather than deliver lateral flow device (LFD) testing directly – due to the comparatively low number of cases the institution has experienced since the beginning of the pandemic, as well as the need for national resources to be targeted to higher-priority institutions, a spokesman said.

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