St Andrews University students will be offered free Covid-19 tests before they head home to visit family at Christmas.
People without symptoms, will be able to get a test whether or not they plan to leave St Andrews over the festive break.
They will be voluntary but students have been strongly advised to take them as young people are more likely to have no symptoms, even if they have the virus.
The university plans to open a testing centre it its own sports centre by November 30.
Students will be offered a lateral-flow test, which involves taking a swab from the mouth and nose in a process that takes just a few minutes.
Results will be received within 24 hours.
The Scottish Government recommends taking two tests a few days apart to have the greatest level of confidence that students are not infectious with Covid before they leave St Andrews.
Anyone who tests positive will be asked to take a different test at the Covid testing centre in St Andrews to confirm the result and should self-isolate.
The university is urging anyone who tests negative to travel as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours, to minimise the risk of picking up the virus before they go.
St Andrews has maintained one of the best records in the UK for keeping Covid levels low, with fewer than 100 people testing positive since September 1 within a student community of more than 9000.
There has been no evidence on any transmission among students in the classroom or from students to the wider community.
No student residences have had to be shut down and no members of the university community have become seriously ill.
Its Covid Rapid Response Team has offered support to students to get tested and self-isolate quickly, while liaising closely with colleagues in Public Health Scotland.
Public Health Scotland has described the University’s response to managing the risks of Covid as “exemplary”.
A University spokesperson said: “Our priority this term has been to keep our community safe and, in doing so, ensure that the wider community of St Andrews is as safe as possible.
“This has been a very challenging semester for everyone at St Andrews, but the response of the vast majority of our students to the risks of Covid transmission and the necessary restrictions placed on them has been hugely positive and responsible.
“As the end of term approaches, we hope this new testing regime will allow students to travel home for Christmas with the reassurance that they are not taking Covid with them.”
A recent survey by the St Andrews Students’ Association revealed that approximately 80% of St Andrews students were planning to go home over Christmas.
The university is preparing to look after up to 1,000 students who have either chosen to stay, or will be unable to get home during the break.
