COVID-19 testing available on campus for people without symptoms News

Testing people who don’t have symptoms could significantly improve the detection of positive cases, so people can isolate themselves and prevent the spread of the disease.

Date: 24 November 2020

Students and staff of London Met who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 are invited to get tested for free at the University’s Holloway Road and Aldgate campuses from 30 November – 15 December. This comes as part of the Government’s UK-wide drive to increase the availability of mass testing, and is offered in partnership with NHS Track and Trace.

Testing people who don’t have symptoms could significantly improve the detection of positive cases, so people can isolate themselves and prevent the spread of the disease. This will help to protect the wider community, particularly people who are at high risk, and help enable all of us to go back to as normal a way of life as possible. ​

The test is free, safe, quick, and entirely voluntary – you do not have to take a test if you do not want one, or do not feel comfortable coming to campus. 

You will need to bring the following to the testing centre:

• a mask or face covering
• some hand sanitizer if possible
• a bottle of water
• a phone, computer or tablet in order to scan the unique barcode linked with your test.

On arrival, you will be given something called a ‘lateral flow test’, which detects the presence of COVID-19 through a swab of saliva. These tests do not require a laboratory to be processed and can rapidly turn around results within an hour. Before coming to be tested, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with how to use a self-swabbing kit.

Anyone who tests positive for the virus will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace to help them track their contacts. This will help people to identify who they may have been in close contact with, protecting others from further transmission. Close contacts of those testing positive will also hear from NHS Test and Trace, asking them to stay at home for 14 days to prevent them from unknowingly spreading the virus. Your results will not be shared with the University.

Anyone who does have symptoms should not come onto campus and instead order a test directly online, or by calling 119 between 7am to 11pm. 

Everyone is strongly encouraged to get tested twice within a three-day period. If you are planning to travel elsewhere for the Christmas holidays, you should do so immediately if you receive two negative tests. Should you test positive, you will have to self-isolate for 10 days. This will still give those who are travelling home for Christmas enough time to do so safely.  

Before travelling home, you are advised to: book travel in advance, avoid busy times and routes and check their journey in advance to avoid disruptions. If driving, only travel with members of your household or support bubble, and follow safer travel advice. On public transport it is important that you wear a face covering unless exempt, wash or sanitise hands regularly, use contactless payment and keep 2m distance where possible.