A walk-in coronavirus testing centre is needed in Dundee to keep students and the wider population safe, it has been claimed.
Councillor Richard McCready has called for a facility similar to that in St Andrews, amid fears many — particularly those without a car — are struggling to get tested.
The west end and city centre are home to one of the highest proportions of students in Scotland and thousands are expected to arrive in the next few weeks ahead of the new academic year.
The Scottish Government says
Mr McCready said: “There are usually around 20,000 to 30,000 students here so if they can’t get tested then it is a worry.
“We are hearing reports of people being sent hundreds of miles for a test because local centres are too busy.
“Most students don’t have access to a car so we need something that is easily accessible.
“We’ve seen one set-up in St Andrews and Dundee has the same issues.”
The city’s drive-through regional testing facility, run by the UK Government, is currently based at Dudhope Castle but it is run on an appointment-only basis.
There have been reports of people being told to drive to Aberdeen when requesting a test and waits of more than three days to receive results.
NHS Tayside has said people who are most in need have been prioritised locally.
Mr McCready added: “International students and those from across the UK are very welcome and we want everyone who comes here to enjoy themselves and hopefully end up staying for longer.
“But this is an important issue and we need to make sure students, university staff, and the rest of the population here are safe.”
Calls for blanket testing of all international students was recently ruled out.
However, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The First Minister announced on August 25 that walk-through testing centres for COVID-19 will be established across Scotland.
“The first site has already been established in St Andrews.”
The spokesperson said work was ongoing between the NHS, local authorities, the Scottish Government and the UK Government to establish additional sites.
“The first will be primarily focused on providing access to testing for our returning student population and to local populations where car ownership may be low,” they added.
“Future sites will be identified on a range of parameters, which includes the distance from an established Regional Testing Centre, such as the ones in Inverness and Aberdeen.”
A spokesperson for Dundee University said: “Our priority is the health and safety of all in our community.
“To this end, the University is providing transport to allow international students to travel safely to their accommodation in Dundee from their Scottish point of entry. We are working with Dundee University Students’ Association to ensure all students required to self-isolate receive support and guidance throughout that period.
“We have been planning for several months for a wider reopening of our campuses, with Covid-19 protocols in place, including physical distancing, reduced occupancy of buildings, more online delivery of services and QR codes to help Track and Trace efforts. This has all been done in line with advice from the Scottish Government.
“We will have a central reporting process for all staff and students. In the event of an outbreak we will follow the instructions from Public Health Scotland and put measures in place to manage it. We are actively engaged in discussions with the NHS and Scottish Government, and other local institutions, to improve students access to testing.”
