The University of Limerick is to facilitate on-campus Covid-19 testing for students who wish to avail of it before they travel home for the Christmas break.

Testing will be conducted on-campus by Public Health Mid-West and students living in the immediate vicinity of the campus are being invited to register for the test even if they do not have any symptoms of the virus.

The test is free of charge to students.

"The offer of on campus testing will build upon the myriad of safety protocols we have in place to keep our community safe," said UL President Professor Kerstin Mey.

“It will aim to minimise any virus transmission by helping to identify asymptomatic carriers of Covid-19, particularly among students who intend to return home for the Christmas period.

Dr Mai Mannix, Director of the Department of Public Health Mid-West said: "I encourage students to get tested for Covid-19. It's free and is a short process that will help protect those you live with, your loved ones at home, your student community and others in your community who will want to enjoy a safe and Covid-free Christmas."

Prof Mey said there have been some cases of Covid-19 among the student population, adding that these were “due to community and household transmission.”

“Anywhere we can introduce further safety protocols for our students both on and off campus we will take those opportunities and we are very happy now to be in a position to facilitate Covid-19 testing to our student community,” Professor Mey added.

Students at UL have been repeatedly advised to follow public health guidelines, to download the Covid tracker app and to self-isolate if they display any symptoms while they await a test.

It was reported earlier that fifteen teachers have had to self-isolate following a Covid-19 outbreak a secondary school in Co Limerick.

Six teachers at the school have tested positive for coronavirus in recent days and a further nine teachers deemed to be close contacts have to self-isolate for 14 days.