City of Liverpool College opens Covid-19 testing site

This week, The City of Liverpool College has worked with British Army personnel to open a Covid-19 testing site for students and staff at its main campus building.

The Learning Exchange has been used to support the city’s efforts to drive the transmission rate of the virus down in the city.

Following the launch of mass Covid-19 testing across Liverpool in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England, more than 23,000 people have taken part in the pilot to date.

In addition, 14,000 home testing kits have been sent out to local residents.

The mass testing centres which have opened across the city are running alongside the mobile testing units already operating for people with Covid-19 symptoms.

Working closely with Liverpool City Council and local public health officials, the College was identified as well placed to host a test site as part of the latest pilot, moving quickly with local leaders and army personnel to set up the testing site in a matter of hours.

The site has the ability to conduct 84 tests per hour and will be running for 12 hours each day, open to students and staff of the College.

Elaine Bowker, principal and chief executive at The City of Liverpool College, said:

“As Liverpool’s largest college, we’re clear on our responsibility to contribute to the safety of our community. Throughout the pandemic, we have worked closely with the city council and local public health officials to keep our college community safe. The wellbeing of our students and staff is our absolute priority, and we welcome the opportunity to take part in this mass testing pilot as a means of controlling the spread of coronavirus.

Have you booked a coronavirus test yet? A new online map has launched which let’s you check which test sites in Liverpool are busy.

INFO 👉 https://t.co/Dcnt3zcQp7 pic.twitter.com/ZnRiybSoCx

— The Guide Liverpool 🌇 (@TheGuideLpool) November 10, 2020

“We’re fortunate to have great facilities across the College and to be able to use our space and help protect our college community in this way, and contribute to limiting the spread of the virus across the city.”

The testing site, which will initially run from 10^th-16^th November, will exclusively test staff and students of The City of Liverpool College, preventing any additional risks through increased numbers attending the College for testing.

As of Tuesday 10^th November, the Council has also started the first phase of mass testing in secondary schools for those children whose parents have given consent.