Update on COVID, campus safety and public health

07 Oct 2022

A message from Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility and chair of the Campus Management Group

Dear colleagues,

At long last it seems like normality is returning after the most intensive waves of COVID, and government lifted restrictions earlier on the year.

However, it is also true that COVID is still circulating – we’re at COVID alert level 2 for those of you who are keeping track of this - and with winter coming there are lots of other respiratory illnesses circulating as well.

With that in mind, I want to write to you to update you on the latest position at our University.

We’re going to carry on providing face coverings and hand sanitiser at building entrances for you to use.

I’d also strongly encourage you to get vaccinated for COVID and to have the flu vaccine if you are eligible.

If you do feel unwell with symptoms of respiratory illness, stay at home for at least five days. Carry on working if you can, but if not then you can report sickness in the normal way. There is no longer a separate survey for staff to complete for coronavirus. Students can still report using the online survey.

We have also ended the coronavirus special leave policy; you can find the other types of special leave we have available and lots more information on our updated FAQs.

Thank you for continuing to do the right thing – good hygiene practices, taking up vaccines and staying away if you’re ill. If we all do this then we can make a real dent in the levels of illness among our staff and students, and avoid getting sick ourselves.

Professor Nalin Thakkar