Only 60 per cent of Edi students say they’ll get tested before going home for Xmas

Only 60 per cent of Edinburgh students are planning to get tested before going home for Christmas, a recent poll from The Edinburgh Tab’s Instagram reveals.

This news comes after Edinburgh University announced they would be providing free Covid testing on campus for asymptomatic students planning to go home.

In a recent email, Deputy Secretary Gavin Douglas told students: “Testing is voluntary but we strongly encourage anyone who will be travelling for the winter break to get tested.”

The university will be providing testing from the 30th November to the 9th December, every day including weekends at Pleasance and another location yet to be determined.

Additionally, the poll revealed that only 27 per cent of Edinburgh students are going to undergo a two week precautionary self-isolation before returning home.

Edinburgh University has not asked students to fully self-isolate but has asked they “reduce social mixing” two weeks before they travel, which means only leaving the house for essential reasons and exercise.

An Edinburgh University spokesperson told The Tab in a statement: “We are working closely with the Scottish Government and implementing all of its guidance to ensure that our students can travel home safely this winter.

“As part of this, Covid-19 tests will be available on a voluntary basis for students who wish to go home. The logistics of delivering many thousands of tests on campus are complex and we are working on this as priority.

“We are continuing to keep our students informed and will share information on specific arrangements as soon as we can.”

The poll showed that 90 per cent of Edinburgh students are planning on going home for Christmas even with current restrictions and guidelines up in the air.

More information on getting tested on campus can be found here. 

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