Rising COVID-19 infection rates in Reading

This week, working with Reading Borough Council and Public Health England, we have identified an increase in cases of COVID-19 among our student community, particularly those living in the Redlands area.

A Major Incident Team (MIT), chaired by Professor Parveen Yaqoob, has been established to co-ordinate our response.

Nationally, younger people who have not yet been vaccinated are most at risk, as well as those who have received the vaccine within the last three weeks and have not yet built up immunity. Infection rates among 18-24 year olds are rising both nationally and in Reading and we have seen an increase in cases amongst our students living in the Redlands area.

All students who have notified us that they have tested positive are in self-isolation and they, along with any close University contacts, are being supported by our COVID-19 Support & Behaviour Team, including those with concerns about their tenancy contract coming to an end while they are isolating. Students living in Halls can stay in their rooms until they have completed their self-isolation and we are also supporting those in private accommodation.

PCR testing continues to be available locally (including at London Road) for anyone living in the area with symptoms, to help reduce transmission in the wider community and isolate any further cases. If you are identified as a close contact, you can also arrange to have a single PCR test through the government website as you are at higher risk, even if you do not have symptoms, which we encourage you to do.

Professor Parveen Yaqoob, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said:

“We would like to thank students who have continued to report these positive cases to us quickly, which enables us to identify close University contacts and minimise further transmission. We continue to encourage students to let us know as soon as possible if they test positive.

We are very pleased that so many students took up the offer to have their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the local ‘surge vaccination’ centres in Reading and Wokingham, and we strongly encourage everyone in our community to have the vaccine as soon as possible.

As part of our suite of control measures on campus, we are also continuing to provide lateral flow test kits to make it as easy as possible for students and colleagues take these regularly. Almost 2,000 packs of 7 kits have been collected since 24 May.

I would also like to thank Reading Borough Council, Wokingham Borough Council and Public Health England, who are supporting us in taking the necessary steps to protect our whole community, on campus and in the local area.”

Walk-in vaccination centre in Reading extended to Friday 9 July

It’s not too late to get a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Reading as the walk-in clinic is now operating for an extra seven days at Reading Borough Council Civic Offices, Bridge Street RG1 2LU. 

With more than 3,200 people being vaccinated in just over two weeks, the service has been extended to Friday 9th July.

The walk-in service is open to all adults aged 18 and over who live, work or study in Reading and who have not yet had any doses of a vaccine, including UoR students and staff.

The clinic is open:

• Saturday and Sunday 9:00 – 17:00
• Monday – Friday 9:30 – 17:30 

No appointment is needed but you must take your Campus Card as proof of ID.  Check Reading Borough Council’s Facebook and Twitter feeds for updates.