Students drafted in to test Aucklanders for Covid-19
• August 31, 2021
Students will be used to alleviate long queues like this one at the Balmoral testing centre. Photo: supplied
Two hundred health students are being trained Covid-19 testing to relieve the pressure and cut down waiting times at Auckland’s beleaguered testing centres.
The 200 students from AUT, MIT, Unitec, and the University of Auckland must be enrolled in an approved course, such as nursing, and are being trained by the Northern Region Health Coordination Centre.
New pop-up testing centres have been appearing all over the Auckland region to cope with the increased demand during Level 4.
In a statement, NHRCC spokesperson Katherine Irvine said students involved must have received their second Covid vaccination.
“The training teaches them how to safely take a swab, use personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as infection prevention and control procedures," she said.
"They will receive online training, in-person sessions, and students will also have on-the-ground training supervised by a registered nurse . . . before they take their first swab. They will be paid for all of their training."
She said supervisors at sites where the students were employed would be responsible for day-to-day health, safety and wellbeing of the students, who will also retain links to their educational facility and have access to pastoral care from there.
To find out where your nearest pop-up testing centre is, visit www.covid19.govt.nz
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