Students told to stay out of pubs as Covid cases rise
Students in Scotland are being ordered to stay out of pubs as par t of a strict new crack down by university chiefs after a surge in Covid-19 cases in campuses across the country.
All socialising outside their households and accommodation will also be halted this weekend under new emergency rules unveiled last night aimed at halting escalating transmission rates in universities.
Students have been warned they could be kicked out of university over rule breaches.
It came as the Scottish Government faced criticism over the spike in cases at campuses after students returned to classes, amid claims the situation should have been predicted. The situation in universities appears to have driven a surge in corona virus cases across Scotland. There were 465 new cases nationwide yesterday, with two deaths.
It also emerged that 125 students have tested positive in Lothian
since universities returned, including 120 at Na pier. A major outbreak at Glasgow University was behind a rise in cases in Greater Glasgow and Clyde to 219 yesterday.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stressed last night the advice to students to stay away from pubs completely was “just for this weekend” in an attempt to stop existing outbreaks.
“I’m so sorry Covid is making this special time of your lives so tough,” she tweeted. “But it won’t be forever and the more we get the virus back under control now, the sooner you’ll get a bit of normality back. So, please do what’s being asked of you.”
There are also concerns for the general welfare of s tudents who have been ordered into self-isolation in university accommodation and barred from returning home to visit their families.
Professor Gerry Mccormac, convener of Universities Scotland, admitted last night that a “minority” of students have not behaved responsibly.
“Everyone across the nation shares the concern at seeing students in residences test positive for the virus and we will act decisively to deal with this,” he said.
“The additional actions we will take to drive down the transmission of the virus in student accommodation build on the wide-ranging measures already agreed with Scottish Government. Taken together, we are confident that these will help significantly to control the virus in student accom - modation.”
The new restrictions unveiled last night state: “There must be no parties and no socialising outside their households.”
This weekend students will be“required” to avoid all socialising outside their households or accommodation, according to the new restrictions agreed by universities.
The advice adds: “We will ask them not to go to bars or other hospitality venues. This is a necessary step at this crucial moment of managing the virus in the student population.”
Staff presence in halls of residence will be increased to monitor behaviour, while liaison with Police Scotland is also being stepped up.
A new yellow and red card system for disciplinary breaches will also be imple - men ted, with an advisory approach in the first instance. But the notification adds: “We will not hesitate to escalate this to disciplinary action, including potential discontinuation of study.”
There are now 84 people in hospital across Scotland and ten in intensive care. Ms Sturgeon warned cases are likely to rise further in the coming days.
Ruth Davidson, the S cottish Conservatives’ Holy rood leader, called for testing now to be ramped across universities to stem the rising number of cases.
“It’s clear from the figures emerging this week that an increase in infection rates is being driven from within the student population,” she said.
“In Glasgow around half of all cases identified have been within the university. There’s a clear concern that it could spread, particularly given the number of students that travel into uni from neighbouring areas then return home.
“The First Minister has previously accepted the need for routine testing across care homes. Will she now examine the case for such routine testing across Scotland’s university campuses?”
Ms Sturgeon replied :“We will always examine the case for that .” But she said ministers must be careful that routine testing does not become a “pass” out of observing obligations.
“There is a real risk of false assurance coming from negative tests,” she said.
Universities minister Richard Lochhead said he has been in talks with the sector amid concerns over rising cases.
He said: “This is a welcome package of additional actions, building on the clear guidance that is already in place, to support all students and staff adhere to the rules and stay safe as they make a welcome return to study.
“We expect everyone to comply with public health advice and, as new laws come into force tomorrow, it’s even more important institutions make every effort to ensure the rules are understood and followed.”
But Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said students were suffering as a result of the Scottish Government’s “failure”.
“He said: “Some as young as 17 and away from home for the first time are living without established support networks. We know that this in itself can have an impact on young people’s mental health.
“On top of this, some are selfisolating in cramped accommodation. And many more will be anxious that they won’t be allowed to go home for Christmas.”
The First Minister said talk of students being prevented from going home at Christmas is “not helping anybody”.
In a message to students, she posted on Twitter last night: “Unis have a big responsibility to look out for your welfare – especially if you are isolating – and I know they take that seriously.”
Ms Sturgeon said more university “walk-in centres” were on the way. Two are up and running in St Andrews and Glasgow, and others are to follow soon in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee and Stirling.