No going home for students in digs

Learners may also be braced for a Christmas apart from loved ones

University students living in halls of residence or flats have been banned from visiting family homes and could face Christmas without their loved ones as health officials ponder restrictions over the winter break.

More than 1,000 people across the country have been forced to selfisolate, including hundreds of residents in Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh, where cases were found at Queen Margaret’s, Edinburgh and Napier Universities last night.

Scotland’s national clinical director, Jason Leitch, said undergraduates living in shared flats or halls of residence form a separate household and cannot return to their parents’ homes.

Students such as those self-isolating at Parker House in Dundee should now only return to their family home under exceptional circumstances, such as to carry out caring responsibilities.

Professor Leitch said the Scottish Government would need to take a view in the coming months about whether individuals should be told to stay on campus over Christmas.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock did not rule it out for England and Wales when asked yesterday.

Ms Sturgeon’s official spokesman said it is too early to say if students would be allowed home for Christmas but it is understood the UK Government’s Sage advisory group has recommended people should stay on campus over the holidays.

Representatives from higher education in Scotland met to discuss a range of measures.

It has seen students required to download the Protect Scotland tracing app and they have been asked not to attend bars this weekend.

Universities have also now agreed to introduce a “yellow card, red card” system to breaches of student discipline.

Gerry McCormac, convener of Universities Scotland, 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 the Scottish Government.

Universities have also agreed to increase staff presence in student accommodation.

They said they will be “vigilant” against any breaches of guidance and will also offer welfare and practical support to those experiencing isolation.

Ms Sturgeon was accused of failing to plan for the outbreak and came under a barrage of criticism from opposition leaders at First Minister’s Questions.

Last night Matt Crilly, National Union of Students president, said the rules announcement “unfairly blames students for the spread of coronavirus and takes the unjustified step of applying different rules to students over and above the rest of the adult population.

“Having different rules for students makes it even more confusing to stay within the guidance, which could make things less safe. And the rules show a complete disregard for students’ mental health and wellbeing. We need better.”

St Andrews University principal Professor Sally Mapstone, in a message to students last night, said those who work in hospitality can still do so.