Inside Reading University's coronavirus mass testing centre

A covid mass testing centre has been set up in just two weeks at the University of Reading.

The move means staff and students at the university can be tested before heading home for Christmas, to ensure they do not unknowingly spread the virus.

Those without symptoms can take a rapid covid test and receive their results within 90 minutes of being swabbed in the sports hall.

So far 304 staff and students have tested positive for coronavirus at the university, since the start of 2020/21 academic year on September 28. Of those 19 have been staff and 285 were students.

The university has seen three new cases in the previous 24 hours, and 11 over the last seven days.

Lateral flow testing is now available six days a week until the end of term on Friday, December 11. Tests take 20-30 minutes to process and each of the 20 booths can test up to six people an hour.

The university worked with NHS Test & Trace and anyone who receives a positive result must take a PCR test at the London Road campus test centre. These tests take longer to get results but are more reliable.

Professor Parveen Yaqoob, the University of Reading’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, who is leading the team planning and delivering the testing service, said: “We hope that this testing facility will provide some additional reassurance for those students who are returning home to their families over the Christmas break. Many dedicated members of staff have also been working on campus to continue delivering teaching and research, and all the many services that support our students and keep our campus running, and they can also benefit from the reassurance of this test.

"Universities are used to using science and coming up with innovative ideas, but this is the first mass testing system we have built from scratch. The fact that we have done this in such a short time is a testament to the skills and commitment of my colleagues.”

Staff who have been working on campus can be tested from December 7.

For more information, visit the university's coronavirus pages. Students, staff and members of the public can also call the university’s dedicated COVID-19 Support Hotline on 0118 214 7813 from 9.15am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Please note: members of the public cannot book COVID-19 tests through this service. If you need to book a COVID-19 test, please call the NHS on 111 or visit https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.