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Coronavirus

14th Oct 2020

Students given coronavirus test kits that had already been used

Wayne Farry

There are more subtle ways of pushing ahead with herd immunity

Students in the United Kingdom have been given coronavirus testing kits that were already used. Yes, you actually read that correctly. Do not adjust your eyes.

The news was confirmed by Birmingham City Council, who handed 25 used test kits to students living in the Selly Oak area as part of the drop off and collect service.

An investigation by the council found that there had been no cross-contamination, before stating that there would be a further “root and branch” review of the process which led to the tests being handed out.

“Anyone on [Tiverton Road] given a covid test by guys in high-vis jackets, don’t open!” said one student, whose message on Facebook raised awareness of what had happened.

“They’ve already been done – we opened up the box and they were sealed and snapped so had obviously been used!”

According to Sophie Dunne, a second year student at the University of Birmingham who spoke to university newspaper Redbrick, students were told not to mention what had happened on social media. Which obviously did not happen.