Coronavirus: guidance for students and staff
Accessing our campus safely
The UK Government has announced new Covid-19 guidance for England. The main changes are:
- Students and staff in most education and childcare settings are no longer required to undertake twice weekly asymptomatic testing.
- Individuals are no longer legally required to self-isolate after a positive Covid-19 test. However, people who test positive, or who present symptoms, are still advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
- Fully vaccinated close contacts of confirmed cases are no longer required to test daily for seven days.
- Unvaccinated close contacts of confirmed cases are no longer required to self-isolate.
- The Government has ended routine contact tracing and contacts will are no longer required to self-isolate or advised to take daily tests.
- Free universal symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public in England will no longer be provided.
- The current guidance on voluntary COVID-status certification in domestic settings has been removed, as has the recommendation for certain venues to use the NHS COVID Pass.
We strongly encourage students, staff and members of our community to get vaccinated if they haven’t already done so. You can find information and book your vaccine or booster dose online.
Working together to keep our City community safe
All members of City’s community will need to continue to work together to keep each other safe when on campus, so please make sure you read City’s updated guidance on keep yourself and our community safe.
What we need you to do
- Stay at home if you’re unwell - If you feel unwell but don’t have Covid-19 symptoms, or your Covid-19 test is negative, you may still have an illness which could be passed on to other people.
- If you have symptoms of Covid-19, even if they're mild, you should follow Government guidance and stay at home.
- Please respect other people’s decision to wear a face covering, should they wish to do so.
- We suggest that you follow the Government guidance on when to consider wearing a face covering
- Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day.
What we are doing
- Switching air handling units to fresh air (no recirculated air) in City owned premises, in keeping with Health and Safety guidance, to help with ventilation; where natural ventilation exists the windows will be open.
- Continuing to update risk assessments for all activities.
- Keeping hand sanitisation stations across our buildings.
- Continuing our enhanced cleaning programme and providing cleaning products to wipe down surfaces before and after use.
- Keeping safety screens for our reception and library desks.
- Continuing to follow our Covid-19 Outbreak Plan which is approved by our local branch of Public Health England and kept under review.
Looking after your own health
You can find the latest information about Covid-19 on the NHS coronavirus website.
What to do if you have symptoms
With the removal of symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public, you are no longer required to complete City's web notification form if you test positive for Covid-19. If you have symptons of a respiratory infection, including Covid-19, you should follow Government guidance and stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
The main symptoms are:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
How to avoid catching or spreading Covid-19
In line with public health advice, we ask you follow these hygiene practices to protect your own health and that of others:
Do
- get vaccinated – everyone aged 18 or over can book COVID-19 vaccination appointments now
- wear a face covering in crowded or enclosed spaces where you might come into contact with people you don’t usually meet, unless you are exempt
- wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day
Don't
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean