COVID update: latest government announcement

Dear colleagues,

I’m sure you’ve seen that the government has announced a series of steps to remove remaining COVID-19 legal restrictions in England. The MRT met yesterday to make some immediate decisions for the rest of the spring term.

First and foremost, the safety of our University community and our ability to continue our teaching, research and other services remains paramount. Even though the legal restrictions are changing, the government’s Living with COVID guidance still recommends that we all take simple steps to prevent the spread of COVID. As such, we will be retaining certain control measures for the rest of the spring term at least

What to do if you have symptoms or test positive for COVID-19

From Thursday, 24 February, the government is removing the legal requirements around self-isolation. However, the guidance continues to be that those who test positive should stay at home and avoid contact with other people.

As such, if you have any of the three main symptoms of COVID-19 (a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss or change to your sense of taste or smell) OR you test positive for COVID-19 through a lateral flow or PCR test, you must avoid your place of work and our campuses:

• until you test negative on a lateral flow test OR
• until your symptoms have gone, up to a period of up to 7 days, if you are not able to access a lateral flow test.

Public health guidance makes clear that the cough and loss of sense of smell or taste can persist for some time after your initial illness without you being infectious. So if your symptoms continue beyond a week, then please speak to your line manager and agree appropriate arrangements under our normal absence and return to work procedures.

If you do not have symptoms or a positive test result, but you have reasonable concerns that you could be infected because, for example, members of your household have tested positive, please talk to your line manager to agree suitable working arrangements. Further advice is available from HR Partners.

Other control measures that we are retaining

The MRT agreed that the following measures would be in place for at least the remainder of this term:

• Face coverings: we continue to encourage the wearing of face coverings when in crowded places or when moving around inside buildings, in line with the Living with COVID guidance.
• Reporting: we ask that line managers continue to report positive cases amongst staff by completing the online reporting form. Students will also be expected to continue to report if they test positive. This allows us to provide support as required and combines with other measures we are keeping in place to spot trends and respond rapidly to possible outbreaks.
• Meetings: our online-first approach to meetings will continue, with the general risk assessment template available if in-person meetings are considered necessary.
• Lifts: for the safety of those who face mobility challenges, or those who need to use lifts for their work, lifts should only be used by those who need them and only one person at a time should use lifts.
• Hand sanitiser stations will remain available across our campuses.
• Enhanced cleaning regimes will be retained.
• Enhanced ventilation: we are maintaining increased air flow within our existing mechanical ventilation systems.

Vaccination and testing

Vaccination remains the most effective measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The vaccine van will return on 14-18 March for first and second vaccinations and boosters. We will follow up with details closer to the time.

Lateral flow tests will continue to be available from the Library Monday to Thursday 1-4pm until further notice. You can also get them from pharmacies, community collection points or order them online.

We are awaiting more detailed guidance from the UKHSA and will update you again soon, particularly regarding arrangements for the summer term and the new academic year. Learning to “live with COVID” will be an ongoing process for all of us, that we will take at our own pace, so please continue to be considerate of others around you and respectful of their preferences.

Kind regards,

Peter

Professor Peter Miskell

Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience

Co-Chair of the Major Recovery Team