Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven informed the House of Representatives yesterday that Groningen will launch a pilot with a rapid testing location. She allowed applied sciences and research universities as well as regional training centers in three cities to set up a rapid testing location where both students and staff members can get tested. The goal is to investigate whether it’s possible to arrange more in-person education, the minister says.

Besides Groningen, Amsterdam and Delft are looking into the possibilities of rapid testing as well. In early December, TU/e also submitted its candidacy for a rapid testing location, but enquiries from Cursor didn’t yield any concrete statements on whether or not the university will set up such a location. Floor van der Heijden, member of TU/e’s Central Crisis Team, says that the possibilities are being looked into, but that she can’t make any definitive statements on the matter at this point. She expects to be able to say more in three weeks.

Groningen will start by inviting one hundred students to take a corona test 24 hours prior to a physical exam. They will receive the result within three hours. The standard corona measures continue to apply during exams to all students, also to those who tested negative. Based on the pilot, a decision will be made on whether rapid testing locations can also be used for practical classes.