Uni Upping Tests for Asymptomatic York Residents

Testing slots will now be available for residents in the Sports Centre, which was used last term as an asymptomatic testing centre for students.

Sign for the new COVID testing facility, in front of Drama Barn
(Image: Iwan Stone)

The University of York has reached an agreement with the City of York Council to make more asymptomatic testing available to York residents. 

Testing slots will now be available at the testing site in the Sports Centre, which was used last term as an asymptomatic testing centre for students.

This comes following the announcement that the vast majority of teaching this term will take place online.

Vice Chancellor, Charlie Jefffery, described the opening of this test centre to residents as another example of the University’s “close collaboration with partners across the city and region,” saying that he was “pleased that we can play our part in broadening testing across the City to identify those showing no symptoms.”

The agreement means that testing will now be available to anyone living or working in York who is unable to work from home, and is still going to work.

This will now include all staff working in education and early years, those in factories and construction and other essential sectors.

Testing continues to be offered to those who support the most vulnerable in the city, to school pupils who are eligible to attend school and to teachers who will be working in schools.

Cllr Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council, welcomed the agreement, saying that the Council’s “thanks go to the University of York, who along with York St John University, are offering their testing site to residents. This is yet another example of how the city can come together to fight Coronavirus.”