SCOTLAND will launch mass testing of students for Covid-19 at two universities before the Christmas holidays, a Scottish minister revealed today.

“Lateral flow” testing, which provides results in 30 minutes, at the Universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews will begin at the end of November and will be voluntary.

Those with a positive result will then have the more sensitive PCR test, used in the main coronavirus testing programme, for confirmation.

Students with negative results are being urged to leave the cities within 24 hours if possible to minimise the risk of contracting the virus in the interim.

The Scottish government and the two universities’ authorities are working together on the project.

Scotland’s Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead said students were being recommended to take two “lateral flow” tests, five days apart.

Those who test positive will be asked to self-isolate, as will their close contacts.

The University of Edinburgh is urging any students wishing to travel home within the UK for the winter break to get tested, particularly those with vulnerable family members or who plan to use public transport.

A University of St Andrews spokesman said: “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-19 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 the virus with them.”