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Coronavirus testing centre opens on University campus

Coronavirus testing centre opens on University campus

Posted on 2 October 2020

The University of York is the location of a new coronavirus testing facility for the City of York.

This is an archive news story. For more up-to-date information, please visit our Coronavirus webpages.

The walk-through facility is located on the Wentworth Way car park, with testing scheduled to start from Thursday, 1 October by appointment only for those displaying coronavirus symptoms.

Open from 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week, this new facility will provide a critical service for the entire York community, as part of the Government’s UK-wide drive to improve the accessibility of coronavirus testing for local communities.

Critical service

University of York Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charlie Jeffery, said: "Getting this centre opened has been an excellent example of collaborative working across the Council, local and regional public health authorities and the University.

“I'm delighted that the University can host this facility that will provide a critical service for the entire York community."

Partnership

It forms one of a large network of diagnostic testing facilities, which includes 75 drive-through sites and 121 walk-through sites, and this facility will offer students, staff and the wider community the increased testing capacity to help manage and control the spread of coronavirus.

Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council and Chair of the York Outbreak Management Advisory Board said: “The site will run in addition to the drive through facility at Poppleton Bar and will provide everyone in the city with easy access to testing without the need of a car. It has been positioned in a place where many of our communities can access by walking or cycling.

“Looking forward, we will continue this work with our partners to improve York’s testing network and ensure support is on offer for vulnerable residents.”

NHS app

Layouts at walk-through testing sites have been carefully designed to ensure people can move around them safely and securely. There is signage to direct those with appointments, and those being tested will be required to follow public health measures, including social distancing, not travelling by taxi or public transport, practising good personal hygiene and wearing a face covering throughout, which includes travelling to-and-from the testing centre.

Tests should be booked via the NHS COVID-19 App, the nhs.uk/coronavirus website or by telephoning 119.