City students to self-isolate Among hundreds across country
MORE than 1,000 students across Wales have tested positive for coronavirus since term started, new figures have revealed, and thousands more are selfisolating.
The Welsh Government has announced it is providing an extra £10 million this year to support increased mental health services and student financial hardship funds in universities to help students affected.
The funds will be managed by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) in addition to the £27m Higher Education Investment and Recovery Fund announced in summer.
Becky Ricketts, President of NUS Wales, said: “This funding comes at a good time for students who are being asked not to travel home for the firebreak.
“Since university students are being asked to stay put, maintaining blended learning will give students a sense of normality and routine that should benefit their mental health, but the number one priority must always be the safety of staff and students.
“There remain huge questions to be asked about what the rest of this academic year could look like, in addition to the long-term impact this will have on students.”
These are all the universities with cases:
There remain huge questions to be asked about what the rest of this academic year could look like, in addition to the longterm impact this will have on students - Becky Ricketts, President of NUS Wales
SWANSEA UNIVERSITY
From the start of term to October 20, 179 students and 21 staff (none linked to teaching) have reported testing positive for coronavirus.
As of October 20 a total of 69 students and five staff were self isolating.
Swansea University said in a statement: “We have extensively reviewed and invested in our Wellbeing Services and any student who is experiencing difficulties can access a wide range of welfare and mental health services including Togetherall, a free anonymous, digital mental health service, peer support, courses, resources, support sessions, group programmes and counselling.
“If students need to talk to someone they can also contact the Students Union, the Welfare Team, Faith@campuslife, their academic mentor or College Disability Coordinator.
“We also provide signposting information should students need to contact the NHS, charities or other agencies. More details of our pastoral support is available on the Support and Wellbeing and Wellbeing Support pages on our website.
UNIVERSITY OF WALES TRINITY SAINT DAVID
Since the start of term 33 students and 6 staff have reported testing positive for coronavirus and 243 students and 37 staff have been asked to self isolate.
In the week to October 21 a total 15 students and one member of staff reported testing positive and 79 students and 11 staff are currently self-isolating.
The university said it has a range of help for students from online study support to mental health, counselling to extending its bursary and hardship scheme. Residential students can opt into a weekly welfare check.
A spokeswoman said: The Student Hwb is our team of approachable support staff, on hand to answer any and all student questions. They are communicating regularly with students via student bulletins to ensure everyone gets the latest information.
“We offer advice, guidance and support to all students required to selfisolate.
“We also organise regular online or phone catch up sessions to check in if appropriate to do so. For our residential students, the range of services that we can provide include assisting to manage food deliveries, collecting a prescription medication, providing extra linen and towels if required, providing cleaning packs and delivering post to the flats.
“We have also written to all our students living off campus with information about the support that they can receive should they need to self-isolate. In addition, the University’s Students’ Union has organised food parcels for students who are self-isolating.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES
The university said since the start of term 92 students and 11 members of staff have reported testing positive for Covid-19, including those who have not been on campuses this term.
It said its own analysis of the data shows that the main transmission is being seen in community and social settings, and does not appear to be linked to learning and teaching on campuses.
The weekly number of
cases is:
September 30 - eight students
October 7 - nine students and three staff
October 14 - 21 students and four staff
October 21 - 54 students and four staff
A University of South Wales spokesperson said: “The safety and wellbeing of our students is our main priority. Through our Student Services, students can access a wide range of support including support for their health, mental health and wellbeing. We also have a dedicated team to support international students and our Chaplaincy is on-hand to provide pastoral care.
“Students have access to the Fika app which supports mental fitness, helping students to stay focused, motivated and connected, and we are providing students with information and advice about how to maintain their wellbeing during the restrictions.
“There is practical dayto-day help available for students who are self-isolating in our halls of residence, from putting out rubbish and accessing laundry facilities, to providing food supplies, if needed. We are also in daily contact with students who have tested positive for Covid-19 and are isolating, to check on their wellbeing.”
CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
The university said it has had 106 reported coronavirus cases since September 30, among students and staff, but mainly students.
As of October 21 there were 357 students in self isolation in university accommodation and 17 members of staff self isolating.
A spokesman said: “Students, staff and parents can be assured that our plans for the academic year will continue to focus on ensuring the health and wellbeing of our student and staff community.
“Putting the needs of our students at the heart of how we do things extends to helping them arrange food deliveries containing what they want and need rather than providing a random selection of food that they may not.
“The halls teams have been going that extra mile by undertaking specific trips to the shops to source food or medicines for those students who have particular dietary requirements and are struggling to get what they need.
“The team also makes contact by phone regularly with those who have tested positive and are self-isolating and those who are having to selfisolate, but are not unwell.”
ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY
From the start of term to October 21 a total of 36 cases of Covid-19 in students have been recorded by the university, a spokesman said.
In the seven days to October 21 two cases of Covid-19 in students were recorded by the University. Affected student households have been asked to self-isolate.
An Aberystwyth University spokesperson said: “Our priority is the health and wellbeing of our students, staff and the wider community here in Aberystwyth.
“We’re working closely with the Ceredigion Contact Tracing team, and we are supporting all those affected by this awful virus.
“Covid-19 is circulating in our community, and it is only by working together for the common good that will we halt its damaging effects. We fully support the Welsh Government’s announcement about the fortnight firebreak, and we are communicating to students their duty to comply with guidance at all times.
“The University has worked very hard over many months to adapt our campus and activities in light of the pandemic. The comprehensive measures we have put in place include enhancing cleaning, ensuring social distancing, contact tracing, and expecting staff, students and visitors to wear a face-covering while indoors on all University sites.
“These adaptations have been introduced as a result of an extensive programme of risk assessments in order to identify and mitigate risks.”
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
More than 700 Cardiff University students and three staff have reported testing positive for coronavirus with the NHS since the start of October and more than 2,000 are currently self isolating.
Separately, the university’s in-house asymptomatic test service has identified a further 292 cases among staff and students.
The university, which has 30,000 students and 7,000 staff, said overall data is based on them informing the university that they have received a positive NHS test result. It is not Public Health Wales data.
The figures cover Cardiff University students living in the city and staff who are working on campus.
The single daily total for positive tests was 61 on October 20 and 2,043 students were self isolating on that date. Of those self isolating 165 reported doing so because they had symptoms.
A spokesman said: “In the interests of openness and transparency, we took the decision to proactively publish the number of cases on our website.
“The increase in cases is, in part, a result of the proactive measures we are taking to help our students access tests - both NHS Covid-19 tests and through our own in-house asymptomatic screening service, which is open to students who are not currently showing symptoms of coronavirus.”
Wrexham Glyndwr and Bangor University were approached for their latest coronavirus data and comment.