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Dear Students and Staff,

It is essential that we continue to do all that we can to reduce the spread of Covid-19, to help protect ourselves, our families and our friends.  

At St George’s, we train students for career paths of critical importance to society and, as a result, we are permitted to deliver face-to-face teaching across the majority of our courses. There are important responsibilities attached to that privilege and we must mitigate the risk of transmitting Covid-19 in whatever way we can. Alongside the many steps we have already taken as a university, we are now extending our provision of asymptomatic testing to help those of you on site to protect yourselves and others.

We will be offering students and staff who are attending site the opportunity to be tested twice a week. This new approach will begin on Friday 29 January at our testing site in the Robert Lowe Sports Centre and, according to the current government requirements, will operate until Friday 12 February.

Why regular testing is important  

Anyone without symptoms, but who carries the virus, could unknowingly spread it to many others. While testing is not compulsory, if you are attending the St George’s site regularly, we strongly encourage you to come forward for twice weekly tests to identify asymptomatic infections. It is our responsibility to help break chains of transmission.  

We encourage students and staff who are regularly on site to make bookings in our test centre, even if you have been vaccinated. While the vaccine reduces clinically severe infection and severe disease, the impact on preventing transmission currently remains unknown and individuals may still be able to transmit the virus.

You do not need to be tested if you have recently tested positive for Covid-19 and are still within your period of isolation which, if symptoms persist, could be longer than the typical 10-day period for confirmed cases.

If you receive a positive result from the LFD test you will be required, by law, to self-isolate for 10 days.  If you receive a negative LFD test, please continue to adhere to all guidance. Should you subsequently develop Covid symptoms, please access a PCR test.

We also understand that it may not make sense for students on placements to travel to the St George’s site to get tested. You should follow the advice on testing offered by your placement provider.

How to book a test

The Testing Centre will reopen on Friday 29 January, then subsequently on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for the following two weeks until Friday 12 February. The Centre will be open 12pm-2pm. 

While we do our best to accommodate those arriving for a test without a booking, it does cause pressures on the testing team. Please do book a test to help us use our capacity optimally.

Book your test here

It is important that you keep the appointments made, as missed appointments prevent others from being tested. If you need to cancel or change your appointment, please email: cancelmytestbooking@sgul.ac.uk

For information about how your data will be used in our booking system,  see the Covid-19 Asymptomatic Testing Privacy Notice  [PDF]

Where to go and what to bring

Our test centre is located in the Robert Lowe Sports Centre [see map].

Please wear a face mask, unless you are exempt from doing so, in which case you must wear a visor to the site. When there, alert the site manager so that additional precautions can be taken.

Please bring your mobile phone with you, which you will need to use for registering for your test. You are strongly encouraged to register for an NHS Test and Trace account to speed up the process. Please do not come to your test if you have symptoms.

For anyone who has Covid-19 symptoms (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, and/or a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste), the guidance remains that you should self-isolate immediately and book a test at  www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test  or by calling 119. If you or a member of your household have coronavirus symptoms, or a positive test result, it is crucial you notify the University. Advice on steps you should take is available in our Covid information hub.

About the testing process

Lateral flow antigen tests detect the presence or absence of coronavirus by applying a swab or saliva sample to the device’s absorbent pad. The sample runs along the surface of the pad, showing a visual positive or negative result dependent on the presence of the virus. The tests are safe and have been validated by Public Health England for use in people without symptoms. 

Staff and students will receive guidance in how to take the test, supported by trained on-site staff. The test is self-administered and involves applying a swab to the throat and nose. The sample is processed on-site, and the results are usually shared by NHS Test and Trace within an hour.

Get more information and help

Our online Covid information hub has further information and guidance, including how to report a positive coronavirus case, as well as how to seek financial and wellbeing support.

I continue to be hugely impressed and humbled by the student and staff response to the pandemic. Thank you again for all that you are doing.

Best wishes,

Professor Jenny Higham 

Principal

 

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