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New COVID-19 safety guidance, 9 December 2021
9 December 2021
An update following the Prime Minister鈥檚 announcement on 8 December of new Plan B safety measures.
New Government guidance听
The UK Government has announced several听听in England in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant:听听
From Friday 10 December, face coverings will be required by law in most indoor public places. Face coverings are already听required in shops and on public transport.听
From Monday 13 December, office workers should work from home if they can, with听Government听exemptions for Higher Education staff (see below).听
From Wednesday 15 December, people over 18 will need a digital NHS COVID Pass, recognised international proof of vaccination, or听proof of a听negative Lateral Flow Test (LFT)听in the last 48 hours听to gain entry to many large venues. This does not include teaching and learning events.听
The Government has announced its intention to replace self-isolation with daily testing for some contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID-19. Further details will be set out soon. Until then,听by law听you must self-isolate if听told听to do so by NHS Test and Trace.听This includes anyone identified as a close contact of a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, irrespective of vaccination status and age.听
These measures are in addition to the Government鈥檚听, including new Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test requirements.听听
Working听on campus听
Campus听will听remain open for in-person teaching, research and support activity,听which will听continue听as planned听in line with听the latest听.听We expect students to be on campus unless they are unwell, have been asked to self-isolate, or听their听programme is available for remote study.听听
The Government has advised that anyone who cannot work听remotely听should continue to听come into their usual place of work听(with some exemptions for Higher Education settings). For example, to access equipment necessary for their role or where their role must be听carried out face-to-face.听At 果冻影院, this includes colleagues听who need to be听on campus听to deliver face-to-face teaching and research听(e.g.听lecturers, researchers听补苍诲听other听academic staff) and听those who support this work (e.g.听lab technicians,听specialist technical staff听and other student-facing roles),听who听are expected to continue working onsite.听The same听applies to听staff responsible for student services (e.g.听medical, mental health and wellbeing support,听libraries听and campus facilities).听听
All other office workers听at 果冻影院听who can work听remotely听should do so from Monday 13 December.听Please speak to your line manager if you are not sure if you should work听remotely, or if听you do not have access to an appropriate workspace听offsite听so arrangements can be made for you to work on campus.听Please remember that you must not come onto campus if you feel unwell (even if you do not have COVID-19 symptoms) or you have been asked to self-isolate.听
If听it is听not clear听whether a听member of听staff听should听work remotely,听their manager should seek听advice听from听their听Faculty听or Professional听Services听leadership,鈥痠n consultation with鈥�HR Business Partnering听where required.听
Advice for students听
Out latest advice for students can be found on the Student News webpages.
Keeping our community safe听
笔濒别补蝉别听谤别尘别尘产别谤:听
听or boosted against COVID-19 if you can.听The听听is currently accepting walk-in appointments.听听
Face coverings are mandatory听while indoors on campus, unless you are exempt.听
Get tested with a free听听if you think you may have COVID-19听and report your test results to听果冻影院 Connect to Protect.听
Get tested at least twice a week听with a free听Lateral Flow Test (LFT), and before听mixing with people in crowded indoor places,听even if you don鈥檛 have COVID-19 symptoms. Please report your test results to the听听补苍诲听果冻影院 Connect to Protect.听
Cancel听or听postpone all听果冻影院-sponsored social gatherings for staff听until further notice.听
Find out more about the measures 果冻影院 has put in place and what you can do to help听keep everyone safe on campus.听
Further information and support听听
Further advice and resources for managers are available on 果冻影院鈥檚听coronavirus information hub.听听
果冻影院 staff can also access听emotional support听and practical advice听by contacting the听Employee Assistance Programme: Staff Support Service. The service is 24/7, free and entirely confidential.
贵础蚕蝉听
- Are there any听changes to the teaching model听for the remainder of Term 1?听听
Face-to-face teaching and research听should continue as planned for the remainder of term.听听states that teaching and learning should not be moved online as a result of the work from home guidance and staff can continue to attend work as necessary to deliver this.听
The only exception to this guidance is if a specific Faculty or area of 果冻影院 is affected by an outbreak. In that instance, the听果冻影院 Connect to Protect team听will advise staff on how to respond, in line with 果冻影院鈥檚 outbreak management plan and guidance from public health authorities where appropriate.听
- Are there any changes to the teaching model in Term 2?听听
In line with UK Government guidance, we intend for campus to be fully open听and for face-to-face teaching and research to continue as planned in Term 2.听The situation is听evolving听and public health guidance can change at short notice.听We will keep this under review and update you again should Government guidance change.听听
- How will 果冻影院听support staff who听are required to travel听to听work?听
Our priority is to make sure our campus and our community are as safe as possible. We will consider听requests for support to help听reduce the risk of transmission while commuting for colleagues who are required to work on campus, however the situation is different听from听last year when 果冻影院 was able to offer smaller numbers of staff support such as expenses for parking and congestion charges.听