STUDENTS ARE BANNED FROM GOING HOME
Visiting families is now against the law Not allowed in a pub or restaurant
SCOTLAND’S students were yesterday warned it is illegal for them go home to their families as the Government’s new virus restrictions descended into farce.
Nicola Sturgeon took the unusual step of apologising after the guidance changed overnight.
Students were also warned not to socialise this weekend in a desperate effort to halt the rise in cases at universities.
New, legally enforceable restrictions mean Scots can no longer visit relatives or friends inside their homes
And it was confirmed that students as young as 17 will be classed as living in a different household from their family, ruling out weekend and holiday visits.
The move sparked confusion after Scotland’s national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch initially claimed that students could return home, but he was then forced to backtrack. It could see youngsters forced to spend months away from home, including over the festive period.
Officials are desperately trying to contain significant Covid-19 outbreaks at several universities in Scotland, with hundreds of students testing positive and more than 1,000 self-isolating.
New guidance was issued by Universities Scotland last night, with students warned not to visit pubs or other hospitality venues this weekend.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: ‘Students were told that they could return to universities and the communal living that goes with that, safely.
‘But now they are suffering the consequences of [the Scottish] Government’s failure. Students, some as young as 17 and away from home for the first time, are living without established support networks. We know this in itself can have an impact on young people’s mental health, and many more will be anxious that they won’t be allowed to go home for Christmas.’
Yesterday, Professor Leitch wrote on Twitter: ‘Was asked last night whether
‘Confusion and mixed messages’
students in halls and flats can go back to parents’ homes. To clarify, they are a separate household... the law is clear: they can’t meet indoors with another household – even mum and dad. Sorry.’
It came less than 24 hours after he told the BBC that students could go home.
When asked at First Minister’s Questions if students could be forced to stay away from home at Christmas, Miss Sturgeon refused to rule this out.
Her spokesman later said that under current rules, students would not be able to return home for the festive period but added that it was too early to speculate because ‘it’s quite a long way off ’.
Scottish Tory health spokesman Donald Cameron said: ‘It’s vital that public health messages are clear. Everyone has to understand exactly what sacrifices they’re being asked to make.
‘Confusion and mixed messages over the guidance will hurt our chances of suppressing the virus at this crucial moment.’
Last night, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘To all students – I’m so sorry Covid is making this special time of your lives so tough.’
But she said that when the virus is brought under control ‘you’ll get a bit of normality back. So, please do what’s being asked of you.’
At the University of Glasgow, 124 students have tested positive and more than 600 are self-isolating.
In Dundee, 500 Abertay University students were asked to selfisolate after three tested positive.
At the University of Aberdeen, 72 residents in Wavell House have been asked to self-isolate after several students tested positive.
A further 120 cases have been identified at Edinburgh Napier University.
Students who flout the rules have been warned they could be kicked out of university.
Gerry McCormac of Universities Scotland said: ‘We appreciate this isn’t what students would ha ve expected from their first few weeks at university, but it is critical that they play their part in suppressing the virus.’
Universities have agreed to increase staff presence in student accommodation. And they said they will be ‘vigilant’ to deal with any breaches of guidance but also plan to offer welfare and practical support to those affected.
Universities will also put care packages in place to help feed students forced to isolate in halls. It emerged that a mobile testing centre has been set up at Murano halls, in Glasgow’s West End.
Braiden Smith, 20, from Dunfermline, Fife, a third-year student at the University of Aberdeen, is isolating after his flatmate developed Covid symptoms.
He said: ‘I’m more annoyed than anything at all the restrictions, most of which seem unnecessary.
‘I was planning to go home for Christmas and now that may not happen, so there is a feeling of frustration among the students here.’
Abertay students isolating in halls of residence appeared in good spirits. A number of messages to passers-by have been placed in windows, including: ‘Send Drink’, ‘Hi Mum’, ‘Help’, ‘1 Honk = Hello’.
NHS Grampian confirmed that 16 cases of Covid-19 have been identified and 72 were isolating, within the University of Aberdeen.
Oliver Pike, 21, a masters student at the university, said: ‘There is definitely a sense of frustration and anger at the Government.’
The National Union of Students Scotland has urged universities to increase support for students.
NUS Scotland president Matt Crilly said: ‘We know that many students will have moved away from home for the first time. The news that they won’t, for now, be able to visit their families in their homes will be really difficult.’
But yesterday, Scott Quinn, president of the University of Dundee Student Association, warned: ‘Removing the opportunity of safe, fun facilities for students will not reduce the number of Covid cases, but drive these activities underground and result in more flat parties that are actually the root of the problem.’
Aberdeen University Student Association president Cecilia Wallback said: ‘Why are students being singled out as scapegoats for a crisis the Government is failing to manage? Raging.’
The University and College Union’s Scotland official Mary Senior said: ‘Students have the same rights as any other member of the community and should not be treated as second-class citizens.’
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