On-campus testing for key workers

The University’s Butchart Centre opened its doors to start providing key workers with lateral flow tests on Monday 22nd February.

By Jeevan Bains

Photo Credit: Anttoni James Numminen

Testing already exists at the centre on University Road for student's lateral flow tests, however, as of the 22nd, doors are open to asymptomatic key workers as well.

These tests will allow key workers to be tested to receive a same-day test result of their Covid-19 status.

“Community testing is voluntary but we hope that providing easy access to tests for key workers without symptoms will encourage people to come forward”, Jullian Evans, the head of NHS Grampian’s health intelligence said.

The city reported 23 positive cases on the 24th of February, with zero deaths for the same date – this week's death rate of 3 is a 50% reduction on the previous 7 days.

Ms. Synnott, a key worker in the city, welcomed the new centre and explained that the wider lateral flow testing “is a beneficial resource for key workers” to “help keep peace of mind while working as a customer-facing key worker”.

These measures come as 1,488,077 people in Scotland to date have received their first dose of vaccine for Covid-19, according to the Gov.UK website.

The lateral flow test centre for key workers is the first of its kind in the city. The centre works parallel with other efforts in the city, including the recently opened P&J Vaccination centre located in Dyce.

Rosie Benny, a Politics and International Relations student, recently received the Oxford vaccine, describing the process as “really simple, efficient and absolutely worth doing”, albeit “almost dystopian, a cross between an airport with zigzagging barriers and a concert venue.”

The director of people for the University of Aberdeen said: “We are delighted to be supporting the city’s response to managing the pandemic”.