News

New coronavirus testing centre for QUB students

A new covid testing centre for Queen's University Belfast students will open this week
A new covid testing centre for Queen's University Belfast students will open this week A new covid testing centre for Queen's University Belfast students will open this week

A NEW walk-in Covid testing centre is to be opened at Queen's University in Belfast.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) last night announced the move, with other new sites operating across university campuses in coming weeks as students return for the first term.

The Queen's unit will be located close to the university's physical education centre and will have the capacity to carry out 2,000 tests a week. It will be operational from tomorrow.

While it will provide students with greater access to testing, it can also be used by the wider public.

The PHA say booking is essential.

Concerns are mounting about the impact of students returning to colleges as rates of coronavirus infections continue to soar across Northern Ireland.

It emerged yesterday that 27 students from Queen's University have been suspended after they breached coronavirus regulations and were issued with Covid notices by police.

The PHA also announced mobile testing units are to be set up at Ulster University (UU) campuses in Belfast, Derry and Coleraine on alternate weeks.

A spokeswoman for the Queen's welcomed the development.

"The availability of a walk-in testing centre on campus provides students with greater access to testing and further enhances measures to mitigate the risk of spread on campus," she said.