Students planning to travel to Ceredigion for the festive season are encouraged to book a coronavirus test whether they have symptoms or not.
The Welsh Government has worked with universities across Wales to enable students and staff who do not show symptoms to be tested as part of a testing pilot. These tests are done using a lateral flow device, which is different to the tests used for people showing symptoms. Students are urged to check the availability of such tests with their universities before travelling home for Christmas. These tests will help limit the spread of the virus so we can all protect our families, our friends and our communities.
Students returning to Ceredigion are advised to take this test before 9 December 2020. If you test positive, this will allow you to complete self-isolation at university before returning home for Christmas.
A positive test will mean that you will need to self-isolate at your term time address for 10 days and strictly follow self-isolation guidance. You will also need to get an NHS Covid-19 test to confirm the result by visiting this website (Getting tested for coronavirus (COVID-19)) or by calling 119.
Aberystwyth University has announced that they will be taking part in the scheme to allow students to test for coronavirus before leaving their university address for Christmas, with the testing taking place from 30 November 2020 until 7 December 2020. More information is available here on Aberystwyth University's website. University of Wales Trinity Saint David, which has a campus in Lampeter, has also announced that asymptomatic testing is available for students between 30 November 2020 and 11 December 2020.
Students are also encouraged to be responsible and lay low before returning and once at home, by limiting their social contact as much as possible before travelling. In Ceredigion, we ask everyone to respect these rules in order to protect the high percentage of older people who live in the county, as well as our families, our friends and our communities.
If the asymptomatic testing scheme is a success, it is hoped that similar testing could be undertaken on students’ return to the county in January. This will safeguard both the student population and the wider population of Ceredigion.
The full guidance for students is available on the Welsh Government’s website.
All the latest information, advice and support on the coronavirus in Ceredigion is available on Ceredigion County Council's website.
Together we can keep Ceredigion safe.
27/11/2020