UNIVERSITIES will roll out rapid coronavirus testing so students can go home for Christmas.

Oxford Brookes and Oxford University are offering students free and fast Covid-19 tests so they can travel safely without spreading the virus to their family and friends in other cities.

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The tests will begin on Oxford Brookes campuses this weekend and Oxford colleges by November 30.

As part of the latest lockdown students have been told they cannot travel between term-time accommodation and their permanent homes.

The latest plans for rapid testing come as the government announced a ‘Christmas travel window’ for students on staggered days between December 3 and 9.

The ‘lateral flow tests’ will only be available to students who do not have coronavirus symptoms – known as Asymptomatic testing.

Students will be told to get tested twice, three days apart.

Once they have received two negative test results they can then go home.

But if a student rests positive they will need to take a confirmatory PCR test (at NHS testing centres like the on-site one at Oxford Brookes Headington campus or at Oxford University colleges) and self-isolate for 10 days before going home.

  • Students who want to go home in a car are being told to avoid car sharing with somebody outside of their household or support bubble.
  • Those going back home on the train are being told to pre-book and avoid busy times.