Students went from parties to lockdown in just two weeks
LARGE GATHERINGS HAVE DRIVEN UP THE CITY’S INFECTION RATE AS PUBLIC HEALTH BOSSES FEARED
THE decision to ask hundreds of students at Manchester Met University to stay in lockdown has been brewing for more than a month.
As far back as August, Manchester’s public health team agreed a ten-point plan for the next stage of the coronavirus pandemic that included a specific clause on universities.
While outbreaks at primary and secondary schools made the headlines earlier in September, officials have always been concerned that the return of university students would become a major challenge.
Positive cases have been rising in young people all summer.
And with an estimated 100,000 students returning to Greater Manchester for university courses, it was predicted that this would eventually drive up infections.
In Manchester, like many northern cities, areas with big student populations are also among some of the most deprived.
Wards such as Fallowfield and Hulme have high numbers of residents with health vulnerabilities and poor housing.
A leaked Public Health England report suggested earlier this month that coronavirus could be endemic in communities with severe deprivation, poor housing and large ethnic minority groups.
The five higher education institutes in our region - Manchester University, Manchester Met, Salford, Bolton and the Royal Northern College of Music - issued an unprecedented joint message with student union leaders promising firm action to help prevent the spread of Covid19.
The unis say they have issued a strict warning that students must follow the rules or face disciplinary action including being kicked off their course.
But in the past fortnight, there have been several reports of large student gatherings.
Residents said around 100 students partied till the early hours at Birley Halls in Hulme on Monday, September 14 and Tuesday, September 16.
And last Friday a video surfaced of a huge student party at Owens Park in Fallowfield.
The gathering at Birley halls appears to have quickly translated into a Covid-19 outbreak, and the
M.E.N understands public health officials are preparing for a similar scenario in Fallowfield within the next few weeks.
Here, we asked Manchester’s Director of Public Health, David Regan how the outbreak at Birley translated into a lockdown.
He said: “As director of public health, I have daily access to positive case notifications as they come through. It was evident from 16 September that we were starting to see a significant increase in cases of young people aged 17-21 across the City. We then cross-referenced this with postcode information and intelligence from colleagues at Man Met University. On Thursday, September 24 we analysed the data further and it was evident that the number of cases at Birley and Cambridge Halls (100+ and rising) in particular, were a cause for concern.
“A decision was made on Friday at the second OCT meeting to advise immediate action following a significant rise in cases in Birley and Cambridge Halls. Partners including the university and Public Health England (PHE) were in full agreement.
“The risk assessment undertaken by the Outbreak Control Team also took into account the risk of transmission to the wider community of Manchester and beyond.”
“Under national guidance, confirmed cases and contacts are
required to self-isolate already and within Manchester, different households are not allowed to mix.
“In the main, we have reenforced these existing measures that all Manchester students should already be complying with.
“We have currently not used any legal measures to enforce the additiona l requests. We hope our students can understand the rationale for these actions and will support us in helping to contain infection and reduce further spread either amongst the students themselves or into the wider community.
“The rising weekly incidence rate and increase in the number of Covid hospital admissions at the Manchester Royal Infirmary reinforces why this is so important.”
He added that as of Saturday there were 137 cases across the two sites. “We will commence a Testing programme based on the latest epidemiology. This will be communicated to students.”
He said that some students may be allowed to return home to isolate:, adding: “Under exceptional circumstances, a case- by- case assessment can be made depending on the individual circumstances of the student and the potential risk for onward transmission.
“Any arrangements will be made by the university team with public health advice to make sure it is done in the safest possible way and avoid the spread of the virus any wider, including to families and the wider community.”
We hope out students can understand the rationale for these actions Director of Public Health David Regan