Exeter students should get covid test before Christmas

University doesn't want infected people travelling

The University of Exeter is encouraging students going home for Christmas to get a covid-19 test first.

The government has told students to make their travel plans for between 3 and 9 December, after the current lockdown ends.

Exeter University bosses say teaching will move online that week, except for courses where that's not possible. 

Mike Shore-Nye, registrar and secretary, said that while testing is not mandatory before returning home, they encourage students to get a test. He said: “To ensure that students can have reassurance before they travel home, the government is making additional testing capacity available to universities, especially for those in areas where there is currently a high level of covid-19 infection.

“The rates in and around our campuses in Exeter and Cornwall are relatively low at this moment, but we are working with government to ensure we have sufficient capacity and we will ensure that all students who want a test can get one, as we have done throughout term one.

“Testing is not mandatory, but we encourage those wishing to travel home and who want to be aware of their covid status to get a test, to be able to give reassurance to those they are travelling to be with.

“The government is advising those who test negative for covid-19 in the period from 3 to 9 December to return home as soon as possible during the student travel window.

“Students who test positive will be required to self-isolate in their current location for a period of 10 days and will be unable to travel during those ten days. We will work to support you throughout any period of self-isolation, after which you will be able to travel home if you wish to. Students who are identified as close contacts of someone who has tested positive must self-isolate for 14 days, but new guidance is expected which may allow close contacts to continue their isolation at another address if they have received a series of negative test results.”

He added: “As a community we have made big sacrifices and made a great deal of progress in getting our own covid-19 cases under control. However, if we were to see a significant increase in cases over the next few weeks, is it clear that this will have a direct impact on our ability to travel home if and when we want to, and to have the Christmas break that we all want.

“We must all therefore redouble our efforts to prevent covid transmission and it is vital that students minimise the chances of bringing covid-19 back home to friends and loved ones, who could be much more vulnerable."

Support will be given to those students who choose to stay on campuses for Christmas.