Government offers virus advice to universities

Universities should only offer face-to-face lessons for priority courses and students must not return to their family home if stricter measures become necessary amid local outbreaks, Government guidance says.

Institutions must have a plan in place that "assumes there is likely to be an increase in the number of cases, or an outbreak associated with their setting", the Department for Education (DfE) advice says.

The updated guidance comes as thousands of students prepare to return to campus for the start of term.

It was made after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that social gatherings of more than six people will be banned in England from Monday in a bid to tackle rising coronavirus cases.

Ahead of Freshers' Week, universities have been told they should not allow students to have "private gatherings" in halls of residence which exceed the limits for gatherings in private households.

In student accommodation, universities are expected to identify "households" to manage routine contact as safely as possible.

These households in halls of residence would be students living in the same flat or on the same floor who share a kitchen or bathroom.

The guidance adds: "The reopening of campuses for academic year 2020 to 2021 will bring about a mass movement of students from across the UK and overseas.”

Blended learning - a mix of face-to-face tuition and online lessons - has been recommended as the "default position" when campuses reopen this month.

It says face coverings should be worn "where social distancing is difficult to maintain outside of teaching situations".