Fewer than half of Exeter covid case are students

Down from around 80 per cent

Less than half of the coronavirus cases in Exeter are now linked to the university as case numbers within students continue to drop.

University chiefs say that around 40 per cent of the cases in the most recent week in Exeter are attributable to the university, a significantly lower proportion than over recent weeks, when at one stage it was around 80 per cent.

In a message to students Mr Shore-Nye added: “Thank you once again for your continued collective actions to protect our community from the spread of covid-19. Once again the official figures have shown a decrease in the number of cases at the university. I said last week that if we saw a continued reduction in case numbers then we would hope to be able to relax our advice on students in Exeter meeting indoors with those who are not part of their household, and we are reviewing this as the week goes on.”

The rule will be enforced until Monday 2 November, and the university says it hopes it will be the final week or having to do so,  however, it added would be dependent on the continued reduction in case numbers being maintained.

Cases being confirmed in Exeter have flatlined in recent days, while the Pennsylvania & University area has seen a drop in cases to 48 confirmed in the previous seven day period.