From Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience

I am emailing to let you know the process to follow should you wish to be tested for Covid-19 on our campus prior to travelling during the Student Travel Window (3-9 December 2020).

We have worked with the Public Health Team on a special scheme to provide asymptomatic testing at our Local Testing Site (LTS).

This scheme is specifically for asymptomatic students – those not displaying Covid-19 symptoms.

If you are not currently displaying symptoms of Covid-19 and would like to book a test, please complete our request form by 17:00 Thursday 26 November 2020. Please note if you do have Covid-19 symptoms you should refer to our Isolate, Test, Inform procedure and use the NHS Coronavirus website to book a test.

If you decide to be tested, you will be given a PCR test and your test result will normally be available within 3 days. You will receive a text or email from the NHS confirming whether your test is positive or negative.

If your test is positive, please self-isolate and follow our reporting procedure. There is lots of support available to help you during self-isolation.

If your test is negative, you should travel home as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours.

Any requests for testing received after Thursday 26 November will be accepted however your appointment is likely to be during the latter part of w/c 7 December 2020.

The Medway LTS is in front of the Jellicoe Building in the car park accessed by North Road. It is open 08:00 – 20:00, seven days a week.

The Government is asking all students to travel from their termtime to permanent address during the Student Travel Window (3-9 December 2020). Please do try to travel during this period if you are able and bear these dates in mind when booking a test appointment. We know that some of you have made alternative plans or may be intending on staying at University after the Student Travel Window has closed. We are here to support you whatever your plans and personal circumstances.

For those of you intending to travel internationally, please be aware that some countries require a high level of Covid-19 certification as a condition of entry. This is not available through the national testing programme and you will need to be tested privately to meet this requirement. Please refer to the Government’s foreign travel advice and contact the UK-based embassy of the country you’re travelling to for further information.

Additional information about Covid-19 testing can be found on our Coronavirus website.