Greens: More clarity needed on student testing plans
Responding to the Scottish Government’s five point plan for student testing, Scottish Green health spokesperson Alison Johnstone said:
“I have consistently called for Scotland to show much more ambition on asymptomatic testing, so I welcome this move in the right direction on students.
“However, I’m concerned that the minister couldn’t commit to the same robust testing when students return in January. We don’t want to see the same mess of students being locked in halls again in the new year. Testing can’t be a one-off initiative, it needs to be an ongoing commitment.
“It’s also clear the Scottish Government is relying on the UK-wide privatised testing system when we could be building capacity in Scotland.
“It’s vital the Scottish Government steps up its ambition on testing and contact tracing. It isn’t accurate to say there was no evidence on asymptomatic testing until recently. I wrote to the First Minister with evidence in April.”
In April Scottish Greens called for weekly tests for NHS and care staff with evidence on asymptomatic testing.