Find out what the move to Plan B means for City.

Published Friday, 10th December, 2021 in University news

On Wednesday 8th December, the UK Government announced a move to Plan B in England.

This means:

  • From Friday 10th December, face coverings will become compulsory in most public indoor venues (except in hospitality settings), unless you are exempt.
  • From Monday 13th December, office workers who can work from home should do so.
  • From Wednesday 15th December, and subject to parliamentary approval, the NHS Covid Pass on the NHS App will be mandatory for entry into specific events with more than 500 people.

The Government also announced its intention to replace self-isolation with daily testing for some contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID-19. Further details will be set out shortly. Until then, current rules continue to apply and you must self-isolate if instructed to do so by NHS Test and Trace.

The Government has also confirmed the NHS will be expanding the vaccine booster programme and allowing people to have their booster after three months, instead of six. The service is currently open to those aged over 40 to book their jabs – more information and the booking link is available on the NHS website.

What this means for City 

In line with Department for Education guidance, City’s campus will remain open. We will continue to deliver any scheduled in-person teaching and you will be able to access study spaces on campus. Our Library, catering outlets and CitySport will also remain open as planned – you can find further information on their websites.

Our teams across the University and Students’ Union will continue to be available to support you, both in person and online.

The University will be bringing our essential support services together at one reception point, so if you are on campus and need to speak to someone, staff will continue to be available to answer your questions Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm in Careers, Drysdale building (E125) and help you access other services including:

The Students’ Union Reception desk will remain open to answer any queries you have and you can continue to request Advice appointments in-person, if you would prefer. Study Well and Society events will continue to take place, with additional risk assessments taking place and any necessary mitigations put in place. If any events which you have signed up for are postponed, you will be contacted directly.

To enable us to keep our campus open safely, and in line with the Government guidance, we now expect all members of our community to wear a face covering in all indoor spaces on campus (including teaching spaces), unless they are exempt.

What to do if you are on campus  

As we work together to keep our City community safe, please ensure you continue to follow all health and safety regulations. These include:

  • 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.
  • Book regular Covid-19 tests - to reduce the spread of the virus and keep all people on campus safe, it is important that you take asymptomatic tests twice a week to help reduce the spread of Covid-19 – even if you have been double vaccinated. You should only come onto campus if you have received a negative result. Lateral flow tests are for anyone without symptoms. You can access free lateral flow tests by: 
  • Wear a face covering in all indoor spaces on campus, unless you are exempt. These can be removed when eating or drinking.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day. You should also wipe down desks and work areas before and after use - cleaning products will continue to be provided for this.

If your lateral flow test result is positive, or if you have any symptoms of Covid-19, please self-isolate immediately, book a PCR test through the NHS and let us know by completing the City Covid-19 reporting form. If your PCR test result is positive, please ensure you update your notification form.

One of the best ways to keep yourself and others safe is to get your vaccine and booster vaccine. You can find further information about this on the NHS website.

We will review any further guidance from the Government and let you know if there are any additional changes – please continue to check your City email address and the Student Hub for the latest information.