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The national Covid picture is mixed, and news and guidance are changing rapidly again, even as we we write. Through the Covid-19 Working Group and the Executive Board, we’re looking at a range of scenarios to ensure we can adapt our plans swiftly and (reasonably) easily if we need to - as we have throughout the pandemic.

Here’s an overview of the additional safety measures and scenarios we’re looking at. If Government guidance for higher education changes significantly over the Christmas break, we’ll let you know what you need to do, and we’ll confirm any changes to plans at ¹û¶³´«Ã½ early in the new year.

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Strengthening safety measures

We’re further strengthening our position on face coverings to say these are now required in all indoor settings when moving around – and we’ve updated the student disciplinary framework to reflect this. We’re also working with local Councils and Public Health authorities to ensure continued testing capacity on campus.

We’re temporarily increasing the PCR testing offer on campus for people who may have Covid-19 but are not currently experiencing symptoms. A mobile PCR testing unit will be available on the Piazza from 9am-5pm on Tuesday 21 December, Wednesday 22 December and Thursday 23 December. Staff and students do not need to book, simply turn up and wait to be seen. This is a precautionary measure to prevent any potential spread within our campus and local area and to protect all members of the community in the run-up to Christmas.

Looking ahead, we’re considering other additional measures that we could introduce to help ensure the safety of our community.

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Planning

Our scenarios range from continuing with current plans for the majority of teaching and assessment to go ahead face to face, supported by a range of safety measures like lateral flow testing and face coverings, through to the need to move all teaching online for a period of time. We’ll make appropriate decisions on implementation when the Government provides further guidance.

We’re working with academic departments on ways of ensuring learning can be delivered if more teaching and assessments do need to move online - appreciating that this will require flexibility according to discipline and capacity. And we’re considering increased control measures to ensure that January graduation ceremonies and related departmental events can be held safely.

In all scenarios, we’re considering staff and student feedback, and we’re looking at what would it mean for other services and activities, such as the library, wellbeing provision and ¹û¶³´«Ã½ Presents.

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Wellbeing and support

As always, if you need support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Wellbeing Support Services, the Employee Assistance Programme, your HR Business Partner or your line manager.

There is specific guidance available to managers on handling enquiries such as where staff and students are reporting medical concerns and/or exemptions. We’re updating this advice online and will share it in the new year.