UNIVERSITY students in Wales will not be forced to take new rapid coronavirus tests before returning home for Christmas, the Welsh Education Minister has said.

Kirsty Williams said students would instead be offered the chance to "make a positive choice" in taking up the offer of a test 24 hours before they plan to leave Welsh towns and cities.

Under the plan, Welsh universities will end the majority of in-person lessons in the week leading up to December 8, allowing time for students who test positive to quarantine and be home for Christmas Eve.

Students will also be asked to minimise their social contact with others in the run up to the end of term and offered the use of the new lateral flow test from their university if they plan on travelling home.

On Wednesday, Ms Williams said she encouraged students to sign up for the asymptomatic mass testing pilot - which delivers results in 30 minutes and uses a nose and throat swab - to make returning home "easier".

But testing before travelling would not be enforced for students who displayed no symptoms of Covid-19.

Ms Williams told the Welsh Government's press briefing: "Let me be clear, with regards to asymptomatic testing, we can't force people to take a test.

"We're providing that availability for them so that they can make a positive choice if they feel that that is right for them. But they will not be forced to take a test."

Ms Williams said asymptomatic testing would give "added reassurance around returning home and spending time with loved ones at the end of term".

Students will be asked to follow Welsh Government guidelines, with no-one travelling if they have symptoms, a positive test or if they have been asked to self-isolate by a contact tracer.

Students would also be asked to "stay put" and not return to their families until the first week of December.

Evidence shows transmission were not taking place in teaching and learning environments and universities were seeing a "steady decline" in cases of Covid-19, Ms Williams said.

Mass testing facilities are set to become available at participating universities within the next few weeks.