Rapid testing, the UG and the GGD

There may be some confusion regarding the plans for a UG rapid testing lane following a publication in the UKrant. The UG wants to hold a pilot on rapid testing for students and staff and is therefore thinking of setting up a testing location at Zernike Campus or arranging rapid tests for students. In this way, other test locations would have a reduced burden and the limited in-person scientific research and teaching that is taking place would be able to proceed safely.

To this end, the UG is in talks with the Municipal Health Service (GGD) and the Municipality, but the process is complex. It is therefore proceeding at a slower rate than was hoped for, despite the hard work happening behind the scenes. ‘We want to emphasize that our collaboration with the GGD is going well and that we find such collaboration very important in tackling the coronavirus pandemic’, states Rector Magnificus Cisca Wijmenga.

Earlier this year, the UG, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, the University Medical Center Groningen, the Aletta School of Public Health and the GGD had made plans to set up their own PCR testing lane to allow staff and students of the UG and Hanze UAS to get tested for the coronavirus quicker. However, this was partly made redundant by the XL testing lane at the Martiniplaza.