University Of Limerick (UL) are offering their students Covid-19 tests free of charge. The tests are to be provided for students who are returning to their family homes for Christmas. UL students living in the immediate vicinity of the campus will be invited to register for a COVID-19 test without needing to display any symptoms of the virus.
In a statement from the college, “UL will now facilitate on campus COVID-19 testing by Public Health Mid-West and the HSE, for students who wish to avail of it before they travel home for the Christmas period.”
UL President Professor Kerstin Mey supported the decision. Mey stated “It will aim to minimise any virus transmission by helping to identify asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19, particularly among students who intend to return home for the Christmas period.
“There have been some cases of COVID-19 among the UL population of 16,500 students and these are due to community and household transmission. Anywhere we can introduce further safety protocols for our students both on and off campus we will take those opportunities and we are very happy now to be in a position to facilitate COVID-19 testing to our student community.” Professor Mey added.
UL are the first and only Irish University to roll out testing of this kind. The move comes weeks before the first batch of the Covid-19 vaccine is to be delivered to Ireland. The vaccine roll-out will begin in January, with over 65s in care, healthcare staff, and the over 70s population are due to receive the first doses available.
Luke Murphy, Co-Editor.
