University cluster of 770 cases is biggest yet identified in Britain
MORE than 750 students at Northumbria University have tested positive for Covid-19, the biggest cluster so far in Britain, as staff have threatened to strike over unsafe conditions.
So far 56 – around one third – of universities have reported cases, with more than 200 students testing positive at the University of Sheffield, 177 at the
Liverpool and 172 at Glasgow universities. The huge cluster at Northumbria is likely to be partly driving the soaring infection rate in Newcastle.
A spokesman for the university confirmed 770 tested positive, of whom 78 were symptomatic, adding: “These students are all now self-isolating. Their flatmates and any close contacts are also self-isolating for 14 days.”
Northumbria has just under 27,000 students, which means that more than one in 50 is now infected.
Yesterday afternoon, Newcastle University also confirmed that 94 students and seven staff members tested positive. It said the overwhelming majority of cases were in home settings and had not been transmitted on campus.
Irim Ali, Newcastle city council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods and public health, said volunteers were being mobilised to take food parcels and other vital items to students.
“It is essential that all students act with the same responsibility as other residents and do their bit to protect our city from the virus,” she said.
However, speaking at an independent Sage meeting yesterday, Prof Christina Pagel, from University College London, said it was wrong to blame students for the outbreak.
“It shouldn’t kind of be a blame game. If you stuck me in the house with seven strangers, I’m much more likely to get Covid than I am where I am now, and I think that has to be acknowledged.”
A survey by the Press Association identified at least 2,500 positive cases at universities. There were 47 cases among students at Oxford Brookes uni
versity, while at Sussex University one member of staff and 10 students are selfisolating after testing positive for Covid19, the PA survey shows.
Hillary Gyebi-ababio, vice-president for higher education at the National Union of Students, said: “The rise of Covid rates at universities needs drastic action now.
“It is deeply irresponsible to continue with business as usual and the Government and universities must be honest with students about what the pandemic can mean for their university experience.”
But Universities UK spokesman urged restraint, saying the numbers were low compared to the 2.8 million staff and students in British universities.