Mass testing at Penryn's university campus will be carried out on students before they travel home for Christmas.

Two new Covid-19 testing centres have opened at the University of Exeter’s Streatham and Penryn campuses.

Tests will be available to any students who do not currently have symptoms of Covid-19 from November 30, ahead of the government-supported student travel window from December 3 to 9.

The test involves a simple throat and nasal swab and gives results within 24 hours, and testing for students before they return home is voluntary, and not required.

But any students who test positive will be unable to travel and will be required immediately to self-isolate for ten days in their term-time accommodation.

Close contacts or members of any household who test positive will also have to self-isolate and may not travel until they get a negative test, or complete a full period of self-isolation.

Mike Shore-Nye, registrar and secretary, at the university said: “Although the test is not mandatory, it is only by identifying and isolating positive Covid-19 cases that we can safeguard the health and wellbeing of our friends, loved ones and those around us.

“Even if your results are negative, please do not drop your guard – results are only valid on the day the test is taken. Continue to follow the public health guidance on washing hands, wearing a face mask and keeping space between you and other people.”

He added: “For those with particular concerns, for instance those planning to spend the winter break with people who are clinically vulnerable, will be supported to take two tests, three days apart, if they wish to.

“For those who have previously tested positive during Term One, they should consider carefully whether they wish to be re-tested, as it is possible that the test could pick up remnants from your earlier infection.

“Any result will only give you an indication of your Covid-19 status at the moment you take the test. It is extremely important to continue to follow existing guidelines on hygiene and social distancing both before and after getting tested to avoid infection.”

He said that if a test result is negative and a student wished to travel, they should aim to leave their term-time accommodation within 24 hours after their test. They should therefore book an appointment that will allow them to travel within 24 hours of a negative result and within the government travel window from December 3 to 9.

The student travel window has been created by government to ensure that students who wish to can travel to spend the winter break away from university.

Anyone who remains at the universities after December 9 will run the risk of having to undertake a period of isolation of up to 14 days there if they were to contract coronavirus or were identified as a contact of someone who had.

All but essential teaching will move online after December 4 once the student travel window has opened.

Mr Shore-Nye added: “Each year a number of students stay on campus or in their term-time accommodation for the winter break. We will continue to support those who are with us this year and full details of the support and services available over the winter break will be shared soon.

“I would like to thank those members of the university team who have supported the development of these new testing facilities. The work has been exceptional and has been undertaken under enormous time pressure, but always in the knowledge that it would offer crucial support to many students and their loved ones who wish to spend the winter break together.

“We may of course experience teething troubles over the next two weeks but I know that we will all pull together to support each other in the positive spirit that has characterised our community over this most challenging term.”

Any students who experience even mild Covid-19 symptoms – a high temperature, new continuous cough or a loss of taste/smell – should immediately self-isolate and arrange a HALO test via the Rapid Response Hub.