Wrexham Glyndŵr University Covid-19 Testing Programme
Wrexham Glyndwr University To Take Part In A New Covid-19 Testing Programme
Glyndŵr University will be part of a programme launching a new kind of Covid-19 test. The organisers hope this will lead to faster, more widespread testing nationwide. The university will be working closely with the Government’s Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). These bodies will be hosting a new NHS Test and Trace centre offering staff and students free ‘lateral flow’ tests.
Catrin Finch Centre
Lateral flow tests are aimed at people without Covid symptoms and can produce results faster than the current PCR tests used across the NHS to test those with symptoms. Testing at Wrexham Glyndŵr University with lateral flow will take part between November 30th and December 4th. The Catrin Finch Centre will be the testing facility for students and staff of the university. This testing centre is not open to members of the public.
The Executive Direction of Operations at Wrexham Glyndŵr University, Lynda Powell said: “We want to ensure that those students who wish to go home for Christmas can do so safely. Therefore, by offering tests to our student population, we hope to be able to impact the line of transmission. We will be prioritising students in our accommodation who plan to travel home by December 9th, particularly those with vulnerable relatives. Testing will be open to all of our students and any staff who want one, however.
“We will then ask students who test negative are to travel home in the 24 hours following the negative result. Any student who tests positive must self-isolate for 10 days. This duration will still leave them time to travel home for Christmas. Teaching will continue as planned until December 18th. There will be adaptions for any students who have travelled home before then to ensure they do not miss out on any of their learning.”
Lateral Flow Tests
Lateral flow tests detect the presence or absence of coronavirus by applying a swab or saliva sample to the device’s absorbent pad. The sample runs along the surface of the pad and demonstrates a visual positive or negative result dependent on the presence of the virus.
The progress of the testing programme will be analysed carefully alongside other universities to assess how lateral flow devices might be able to test large numbers of people who do not have symptoms. This breakthrough might then help the country get back to normal.
Health Minister Lord Bethell said: “We’ve already come so far since first setting up a national testing programme to help counter Covid-19. We always continue to strive to go further, faster. Innovations, such as lateral flow testing, hold the key to the next phase of our ambition to see mass, rapid testing available to people across the country.
“I’m delighted that Wrexham Glyndŵr University are working with us using the latest technology. Additionally, I look forward to seeing the fruits of their labour, both in helping target the virus locally and helping find ways to roll this technology out further soon.”
Staff And Volunteers
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Wrexham Glyndŵr University has worked to support its staff, students and the community around it. Staff from across the university have volunteered to help during the pandemic. These include physiotherapy lecturers working with Health Education and Improvement Wales, local health boards and NHS staff to help boost and refresh skills in respiratory care and tackle the challenge of Covid-19.
Staff and student volunteers lent time, equipment and expertise to manufacture and distribute PPE across North Wales. Predominantly to community hubs or through the equipment at our OpTIC Technology Centre.
Students on courses including Social Care, Youth and Community Work, and Criminology worked as volunteers and in paid employment. They ensured key services, charities and more kept running during the pandemic. Glyndŵr students on a range of degrees, from Engineering to Nursing, also helped to provide goods and raise funds for charity.
About Wrexham Glyndŵr University
To find out more about Wrexham Glyndŵr University’s BSc in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Engineering, click here.
Founded in 2008, Wrexham Glyndŵr University is a young, bold and vibrant university based in north-east Wales. The university has two campuses in Wrexham, Plas Coch and Regent Street plus campuses in Northop and St Asaph. In addition, in 2017, the university won the silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework for the quality of teaching.
The university is driving academic excellence through a wide range of innovative and industry-relevant courses. Examples are Applied Science, Computing, Engineering, Creative Arts, Criminology and Psychology.
In conclusion, Wrexham Glyndŵr has been a Top 100 University in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards in 2019 and 2020. Besides this, the Campus 2025 strategy encompasses plans for new student accommodation. There will also be new car parking and upgraded facilities over the next five years.
We hope you enjoyed reading ‘Glyndŵr boosts children’s reading’. For more articles about Wrexham Glyndŵr University, please click here.
