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Covid: How are students travelling home for Christmas?



University students around the UK are beginning their journeys home for Christmas, after mass testing to screen them for coronavirus.

Those in England and Wales are being asked to return home during the week-long ''travel window" starting on Thursday after taking the tests,
while Scotland is planning a more staggered return.

It is hoped this will reduce the risk of students spreading Covid-19 to their family and friends, following outbreaks on campuses earlier this
term.

What are the plans for students in England?
Rapid Covid tests were distributed to universities at the end of November, so that students could be tested at the same time as England's
lockdown ended on 2 December.

Students who test negative have been asked to travel between 3 and 9 December, while general infection rates are lower.

This means students ''pose a much-reduced risk to their loved ones and their community", Universities Minister Michelle Donelan says.

Universities in high-risk areas have been prioritised for testing, with results that can be turned around in an hour.

Unless they test positive or develop symptoms, students are encouraged to travel home during this timeframe, with any remaining teaching
conducted online.

Those found to have coronavirus will have to self-isolate for 10 days, but will still be able to get home in time for Christmas.

What about the rest of the UK?
Wales will follow a similar procedure to England, with students asked to travel by 9 December at the latest, and offered a rapid turnaround
test before they go.

Students in Scotland will be allowed to return home if they return two negative tests, taken five days apart. Those who test positive would
have to self-isolate before going home.

The end dates of courses will be staggered to avoid a "great surge of movement" in December.

The Northern Ireland Executive has not announced any specific plans for the travel windows but is also conducting mass testing of students.

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