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Update on testing students

04 Dec 2020

Thousands of students are now signed up for COVID-19 testing

Covid-19 testing

Our University’s asymptomatic testing programme to help students travel home for Christmas safely has been running for almost a week and thousands of students have now signed up for a test.

Registrations are now over 5,500 and with each student recommended to take two tests, that means we’re administering around 10,000 tests over four sites.

The team behind this project has turned around the programme from scratch in a little under two weeks, with a project group led by Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, Patrick Hackett, and Vice-President for Social Responsibility, Professor Nalin Thakkar.

The group involves PS and academic staff and representation from the Students’ Union to ensure that we are delivering the tests safely and efficiently.

Professor Nalin Thakkar said: “This has been an astonishing achievement for our University with many people working very hard to deliver a testing service with one of the largest capacities so that any student travelling within the UK can have a test.  Public Health England and the NHS have told me that they are extremely impressed by the speed we set up an operation of this scale.”

As well as testing University of Manchester students, our University has provided free testing to students at other HEIs in the city such as the Royal Northern College of Music, and also further Education. We are also working closely with the Greater Manchester authorities to share what we have learned ahead of any mass testing in our city.

Professor Thakkar added: “Student feedback on the testing process has been extremely positive. There are plenty of slots left, so I would encourage any colleagues who are in contact with students to remind them to get a test, to help them get home safely and protect their loved ones.”