Students in lockdown
Students stuck inside with no idea when they can go home
THE SCOTTISH Government was slammed last night over its ‘shambolic’ handling of the virus outbreak among students.
Nicola Sturgeon was forced to apologise to students who have been given confusing and contradictory advice about whether they can go home.
Hundreds are being forced to self-isolate in halls of residence as universities across the country report a spike in cases.
On Thursday, they were told it would be illegal for them to go home to their parents and they would not be allowed out to pubs or to have parties this weekend.
But yesterday the message became even more confused when the First Minister signalled a partial U-turn which could allow them to return to their family homes in some circumstances – but failed to set out any details.
And Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead suggested in a radio interview that students who were struggling or anxious could go home.
He said on the BBC: ‘We expect universities to be pragmatic where there’s any young person who was not coping or was very anxious, we would very much understand if their parents wanted to meet them or take them home.’
Miss Sturgeon told the country’s 250,000 students she was ‘so sorry’ and insisted they were not being blamed for the spread of coronavirus.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: ‘It seems like this policy wasn’t thought through and fully considered despite the concerns that have been raised for some time about preparations for universities returning.
‘The speed that this has unravelled shows just how hastily the guidance was flung together and how badly students and their families have been let down.
‘This is a shambles and students deserve better. They shouldn’t be left in limbo while the SNP fumble for an answer. It’s just not right that one of their first weekends of university will be spent wading through government guidance.’
Miss Sturgeon defended the controversial order which will see students forced to stay away from pubs, restaurants and cafes this weekend amid the threat of expulsion for those who flout Covid-19 restrictions.
Serious concerns have also been raised about the failure to carry out mass-testing of students despite one of Miss Sturgeon’s advisers, Professor Devi Sridhar, urging it.
Students as young as 17 who have moved into residential halls are classed as living in a different household from their family, ruling out weekend and holiday visits.
It has sparked fears that thousands of students face Christmas away from their families.
Speaking at her media briefing yesterday, Miss Sturgeon said she had lost sleep over students. She said: ‘We are looking at whether we can give more guidance on circumstances when students might be able to return home, particularly students who have been asked to self-isolate.
‘We are very aware of the difficult situation students are in.’
And in a direct message to students she said: ‘I really feel for you, but especially for those who are starting university for the first time and living away from home for the first time.
‘I know some of you feel you are being blamed for the spread of Covid right now, but that’s not the case. You don’t deserve to be facing this.’
However, she backed universities taking disciplinary action such as expulsion against rule breakers ‘as a last resort’.
She dismissed suggestions that universities pressured the Government to allow a return to campus for financial reasons.
Jo Bisset, of campaign group UsForThem Scotland, said: ‘We really need the Scottish Government to start looking beyond their immediate statistics and start thinking about the significant impact this treatment is having on young people.’
Edinburgh University public health expert Professor Sridhar told BBC’s Question Time on Thursday that she had called for students to be given ‘testing on arrival, testing after five days, to make sure you catch all cases’.
‘A shambles and they deserve better’