Over the last few months, the UK Government has gradually been lifting COVID restrictions and shifting the emphasis away from government restrictions towards personal responsibility.
As we adapt to living with COVID, the University continues to take a careful and measured response, working with public health bodies and our own experts. We have contingency plans in place, and will be carefully monitoring the situation should anything change. As we approach 1 April, here is a reminder of our guidance for colleagues and students.
Testing
- Following the Government decision to stop mass testing, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also taken the decision to end the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight saliva testing programme. In line with the new Government advice, we will no longer expect staff and students to test twice weekly. Those signed up the programme will have received communications directly regarding the details. The final drop off is 12:00 Thursday 31 March.
- If you have any remaining sample pots, these cannot be recycled at home but, as our University recycling can accept all forms of plastic, can be brought to campus and placed in our recycling bins.
- We have now distributed the last of our remaining LFD supply and will no longer be allowed to supply these for free to staff and students.
University guidance
- If you are feeling unwell, for whatever reason, then you need to stay at home.
- We recommend that colleagues and students should consider wearing a face covering in crowded settings, and other situations where you may deem it beneficial for yourself, and others. Please respect those who choose to do so.
- For those who work or study in medical and clinical settings, or visiting these areas, stricter measures are still in place and must be followed by all staff and students.
- Please continue to maintain good hand hygiene – this is a simple and proven measure to reduce the transmission of all germs and illnesses.
- We have lifted all remaining guidance around social distancing, in line with Government guidelines.
- We continue actively to encourage members of our community to partake in the vaccine and booster programme, and take up the opportunity to get booster shots when available.
- With the ending of testing, we will not be in a position to publish accurate daily case numbers on our website.
- In line with this, we will no longer be asking staff or students to complete the COVID reporting forms from 1 April. You should continue to report sickness absence in the usual way.
- Please continue to keep windows open where mechanical ventilation is not in place, this will maintain good levels of fresh air and is a sensible precaution against viral transmission. Our mechanical engineers are continuing to analyse, maintain and where appropriate, install further ventilation
Support
- Our extension to Domestic Leave from four days to 10 will continue until September, and managers should continue to discuss requirements for flexibility with staff, acknowledging that personal circumstances may continue to change. Please make sure you’ve read the HR Absences page to understand how we can support you.
- If students are unable to attend an in-person exam or complete an assessment due to illness, there is a special considerations process they can follow.
As a respectful and supportive community, we must remember that individual circumstances will be different. There are individuals in our community who are clinically vulnerable, or are caring for vulnerable individuals. All colleagues and students are expected to continue showing the thoughtful and considerate behaviour that has been integral to our collective response over the last two years.
