UCL announces Covid-19 testing scheme for students returning home during winter break
UCL has set out new guidelines for students returning home for the winter break, including a new Lateral Flow Coronavirus Testing scheme that will provide a result within two hours.
Source: UCL Imagestore
The new guidelines outline the steps that UCL students should take as they travel home during the “student travel window” from December 3 to 9. For students who do not show symptoms of coronavirus and would like to travel home confidently, UCL has set up a new Lateral Flow Testing scheme (LFT) which will provide a coronavirus test result within two hours, which is much quicker than the more common Polymerase Chain Reaction test (PCR) provided by the NHS.
All UCL students are encouraged to book two free LFT tests, with a three day interval in between, before travelling within the UK or internationally. Students travelling internationally should be aware that some countries require a PCR test result for entry, which can be booked through the NHS or private pharmacies such as Boots. More information on countries’ specific entry requirements can be found here.
The LFT testing centre will be open on weekdays from November 30 to December 14, and on Saturday and Sunday December 4 and 5. Students can book tests from 8.20 a.m. to 9.40 p.m. to find a convenient time and UCL recommends that students take two LFT tests before they travel. As LFT tests are less accurate than PCR, taking two separate tests will therefore reduce the risk of a false negative result. UCL estimates that LFT tests have a sensitivity of 76.8 per cent, compared to 95 to 99 per cent for PCR tests.
For students who require a test result urgently before travelling, obtaining a test result via a private pharmacy may be more appropriate. The Boots pharmacy offers private PCR tests for £120 each, which provide a result within 48 hours and are approved for international travel. Boots also offers a quicker test for £120 which will return a result within 12 minutes, but this is not approved for international travel as the results are processed in store.
The LFT testing scheme is only open to students who do not show any symptoms of coronavirus, students who believe they may have the virus should instead register their symptoms on UCL Connect to Protect and order a test through the NHS.
UCL recommends that students return home during the student travel window and UCL Provost Michael Arthur has confirmed that the majority of face-to-face teaching will be transferred online from December 3, although some practice-based subjects may continue as late as December 9. The government has also warned that any students who remain at university after December 9 will run the risk of not being able to return home for Christmas if they contract Covid-19 and are forced to undertake a 14 day self-isolation period at their term-time address.
When travelling, UCL has encouraged students to follow the individual advice set out by the government, Transport for London and the Foreign & Commonwealth office in order to reduce the risk of contracting Covid-19. For those returning home by public transport, this could mean travelling during off-peak hours, using quieter stations and booking tickets online instead of at the station. For international travel, students can book flights through Key Travel, which offers several benefits such as reduced rates, waived cancellation fees and additional baggage allowance.
For students remaining in London and UCL halls over the winter break, libraries and social spaces will be closed, but the Student Centre will remain open and the Student Support and Wellbeing team will be available for support.
Students can book their free LFT tests here.