QUB: Minister hails 'game changer' rapid testing

The rapid testing scheme began on Monday

A rapid Covid-19 testing programme underway at Queen's University will turn around results within an hour.

The Health Minister, Robin Swann, has described the initiative as "a game-changer".

The university is the first place in Northern Ireland to conduct asymptomatic testing using new devices on a large scale.

Universities have been identified as crucial settings for new testing interventions.

In the short-term, the programme is aimed at giving "confidence" to students returning home for Christmas.

• What is mass testing and how does it work?

Speaking at the university on Monday Mr Swann said: "I welcome Queen's University's participation in this NTI (new testing intervention), which will help us to understand how asymptomatic testing can be implemented and extended more widely in the future, to other parts of Northern Ireland."

"Providing support to students and their families in the coming weeks is also a very welcome aspect of this NTI."

But Mr Swann also warned that mass testing alone cannot be relied upon in the run-up to Christmas.

Robin Swann (centre) visited the testing site at the university on Monday

In a letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, he said: "Reliance on mass testing alone would represent a high-risk approach in the run-up to Christmas.

"It may not be viable for logistical or test supply reasons."

"Mass testing is an exciting development and together with a vaccine it offers great hope of a way out of our nightmare.

"But it is not a panacea, and certainly not at this time and certainly not without restrictions in place before Christmas."

'Make a difference'

Meanwhile speaking in the assembly later on Monday Mr Swann called on politicians to show unity, and bring an end to "party political point scoring".

He said the executive needed to put the last few weeks behind it, as the division of recent weeks had "not seen devolution at its best", adding that leaking executive discussions to the media was unhelpful.

The new regulations that will come into force on Friday would make a difference, he added.

He said the possibility of mass testing like that which had been carried out in Liverpool was "exciting... but not a panacea".

Looking ahead, he said there were grounds for optimism, but that it was up to the people of Northern Ireland to "hunker down" and play their part.