Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Uni halls lockdown as virus cases surge
More than 400 students tested positive in West so far this month:
AWIDESPREAD coronavirus outbreak at a University of Bristol student hall has brought to more than 400 the number of students who have tested positive in the West so far this month.
Some 300 residents at a hall in the city centre have gone into lockdown after 40 students living there tested positive.
It came as the university revealed that a total of 254 students and three staff members had tested positive for the disease.
It means that the number of students with coronavirus has more than doubled over the course of two days.
More than 100 students in Bath, 33 at Hartpury in Gloucestershire and 19 at the University of Gloucestershire in Cheltenham have also tested positive this month.
Outbreaks among students, who returned to universities from mid-September, have been one of the biggest reasons the case rate has spiked nationally.
The University of Bristol said in a statement yesterday: “The University of Bristol is providing help and support to students at The Courtrooms, a residence in Bristol city centre, following a cluster of positive Covid-19 cases. Forty students have tested positive, which means, in accordance with Public Health England advice, all 300 residents will now have to self-isolate, remain in their flats and only socialise with those in their living circle from this afternoon (October 9).”
The university said the move was an additional precaution, over and above the requirement for all students to follow Government and university regulations to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Professor Sarah Purdy, pro vicechancellor for student experience, said: “The health and safety of our students is a top priority at this very difficult and challenging time.
“We have been actively monitoring coronavirus case numbers across the university community throughout the pandemic and have implemented a range of planned, increasing measures to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.
“This has included the self-isolation of a number of living circles within our residences.
“Having reassessed case numbers with colleagues from the public health team today, we have decided that further measures are appropriate at this stage.”
The professor said the university knew this was a stressful situation and full support was being offered to those affected.
Disciplinary procedures would include warnings and fines, the university said, adding that the measures would be in place for 14 days following Government guidance.
Last week, the university confirmed multiple coronavirus cases among its student population. It said “a very small number of students” had contracted Covid-19, but did not release an exact number.
It released the figures for the first time on Wednesday – the organisation’s website said there were 119 infected students and two staff members.
On Thursday, a University of Bristol student claimed there were parties of up to 40 people in the student halls during freshers’ week and “no one is really trying to be careful”.
This came on the same day Bristol City Council described the outbreak as “inevitable”.
There are now two additional mobile testing sites, exclusively for university staff and students, at Stoke Bishop and the city centre.
Meanwhile, the University of Bath is providing free pizzas and roast dinners to students who are self-isolating.
The university has recorded 103 cases since October 1, with a sharp increase this week.
Self-isolating students are being supported by wellbeing teams at the university who are in “regular contact” with those affected to check on their welfare.
Free snacks and meals are being provided every day, with pizzas on Saturday and a roast dinner on Sunday.
Bath Spa University has recorded nine cases of coronavirus.
Hartpury University has confirmed 33 positive Covid-19 cases among students, some of whom live on campus, with others living away from the site.
And the University of Gloucestershire has confirmed 19 cases.
Only three cases have been reported at the West’s biggest university, UWE Bristol, which has approximately 30,000 students.