University reeling at new Covid outbreak

Twenty people test positive as St Andrews reports another spike in cases

St Andrews University has been hit by another outbreak of coronavirus cases with 19 students and a member of staff affected.

The knock-on effect has seen 51 people connected to the campus being forced to self-isolate. The figure covers 46 undergraduates and five staff.

The fresh rash of positive tests since April 1 comes just weeks after the university recorded 15 cases, accompanied by 80 people having to quarantine as a result.

It is not clear whether the latest batch of cases is linked to those picked up at the end of last month.

The university was thrust into an unwelcome coronavirus spotlight in February when dozens of students breached Covid regulations by attending a party at a halls of residence.

The illegal gathering of up to 40 students in one block at David Russell Apartments prompted a police investigation.

Days later the university’s Covid helpdesk sent an email to every undergraduate they thought to be in town encouraging them to book a test to prevent the spread of the virus.

Twenty new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded at St Andrews University, just weeks after another outbreak connected to the campus.

One member of staff and 19 students are the latest to have tested positive for the virus since April 1.

A further 51 people (46 students and five staff members) are self-isolating, the university confirmed.

An outbreak was also recorded on campus at the end of March, with 15 cases being recorded and 80 people being asked to self-isolate.

In a statement made at the time, the university said the outbreak was isolated to one friend group.

It is still unclear if the two case spikes are linked.

The rise in cases has caused concern among the school’s attendees, with one anonymous student saying: “I’m worried because I don’t want a larger outbreak in the St Andrews community to harm any of the student or staff body.”

Despite his worries, the student backed the university’s efforts to contain the virus, adding: “Measures in place like mobile test centres have been adequate and the services provided have been useful, so I think the school has been up to scratch.”

In an email sent out to both staff and students on April 8, the university said:

“We are continuing to see a raised level of Covid-19 infection in our student community in St Andrews.

“This new variant of the virus is much more transmissible than the version we experienced last semester and there is growing evidence that it can have more serious outcomes for younger age groups.

“Please respect yourself, your fellow students, the staff who must work on site and the townspeople around you.”

The email also suggested that students follow the “Covid-19 code” which instructs that they wear a mask, wash their hands and keep two metres apart.

They were also advised to book a test and use ‘Report and Support’ tools if they are feeling uneasy about the behaviour of others.

NHS Fife’s director of public health, Dona Milne, said: “NHS Fife’s health protection team continues to work closely with colleagues at the University of St Andrews and Fife Council’s environmental health service, to ensure the necessary measures are in place to limit the opportunity for further spread of Covid-19.

“Covid-19 is highly infectious and can be spread so very easily by those with little or no symptoms at all.

“It is vital, therefore, that we all follow the existing control measures in place, particularly around gathering indoors.”