DEALING WITH COVID CASES ON CAMPUS

• Robust measures are in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff. 
• Students will be provided with two reusable face coverings and sanitiser and will be asked not to attend campus if they are displaying any covid symptoms. 
• If students develop symptoms at any time they must stay at, or go to, their home/flat/residence and isolate for 10 days. Household contacts must also isolate for 10 days as per current guidance. 
• If a student is confirmed as having Covid-19, then we would take all steps to assist the Local Public Health Protection Team to trace those students and staff they have been in contact with and advise them of the need to self-isolate. 
• A risk assessment to be undertaken with the Local Public Health Protection Team will advise when teaching activities in that group/area/building can continue. 
• Should in-person sessions be compromised for any period of time, online delivery will be reintroduced. 
• We would ensure any areas the student has visited are deep cleaned and closed for a specific period under government guidelines. 
• It is important to notify our wellbeing team of your self-isolation by completing our online form. Our team will then contact you to arrange to support your learning and any other support you need 

It is important to notify our wellbeing team of your self-isolation by completing our online form. Our team will then contact you to arrange to support your learning and any other support you need. 

Self-isolation is when you do not leave your home because you have or might have coronavirus (COVID-19). This helps stop the virus spreading to other people and from Monday 28 September, it will become a legal requirement to self-isolate. 

We are using internal systems to support NHS Test and Trace systems. More generally, we are working closely with the NHS to help identify those who may have been in close contact with a positive case in our communities and react as quickly as possible. 

We publish information on a weekly basis on how many staff and students have Covid.

If you live in the same household as a person who has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) or who has received a positive test result, follow the Stay at Home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19.

If you have been in close contact with, but do not live with, a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, follow the Government guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person. This may include contact with people in your support bubble.

• It is important to notify our wellbeing team of your self-isolation by completing our online form. Our team will then contact you to arrange to support your learning and any other support you need.  
• The University’s support for you during your period of isolation will start with an email from the Student Life and Wellbeing team 
• The University has organised the Northumbria Concierge service to provide you (free of charge) with a food delivery that will support you over your period of isolation. These food parcels contain the essential supplies you require, such as fresh fruit and vegetables and staple food cupboard items. You are able to select a box which will suit your dietary requirements where possible.
• It’s vital that you register immediately with the service to ensure that you receive your requested delivery as soon as possible (usually up to 72 hours from date of registration). Registration details will be emailed to you once you let us know you are isolating via the link above.
• Before this service is provided, you will need to declare that you are isolating and abiding by government requirements. You are able to opt out of this service if you wish, but should be aware that no alternative support or financial package will be available.
• The email will also provide information on academic, wellbeing and health support.
• We have also prepared some FAQs for students Living In University Accommodation which you should read. 

• There is a local test site on Northumbria’s City Centre Campus which is available to students, staff and local residents.
• The centre is located in the main City Campus East carpark.
• You must book a test online to secure an appointment on the NHS testing and tracing website. You cannot turn up to the test site without an appointment.  
• If you do test positive or have to self-isolate, please remember to let us know via the Report, Record, Support process which enables us to offer you as much support as possible.
• If you have Covid-19 symptoms and are missing lectures, it is important to notify our wellbeing team of your self-isolation by completing our online form. Our team will then contact you to arrange to support your learning and any other support you need.

If you have symptoms or have tested positive for coronavirus, you will need to self-isolate for at least 10 days. 

• You will also need to self-isolate for 10 days if: 
• someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive 
• someone in your support bubble has symptoms or tested positive 
• you've been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace 

If you are self-isolating: 

• Do not go to work, attend University or public places 
• Do not go on public transport or use taxis 
• Do not go out to get food and medicine. Order it online or by phone, or ask someone to bring it to your home 
• Do not have visitors in your home, including friends and family – except for people providing essential care 
• Do not go out to exercise. You should exercise at home or in your garden, if you have one 

Further information can be found on the Government website

• If a student or member of staff were to be confirmed as suffering from Covid, the University would fully co-operate with the Local Public Health Protection Team and assist where possible as the student would also be required to provide details of who they have been in contact with via the track and trace system. 
• Should that tracing exercise highlight that the student had recently been in any facilities, such as a teaching area, library or catering outlet, we would ensure any areas the student has visited are deep cleaned and closed for a specific period under government guidelines. 
• There is specific guidance if we have a confirmed case in University accommodation. Please refer to the Living on Campus and in the City questions. 

• If you have been in close contact with anyone showing symptoms of Covid-19 you should ensure you follow the latest government guidelines for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus infection.  
• If we become aware of any confirmed cases of Covid-19 on campus, we will work with NHS Test and Trace to identify anyone who may have come into close contact with the affected student or member of staff. 

You are required to self-isolate in your household and cannot return home. You could be fined for breaking your isolation by the police if you do not stay at home and self-isolate following a positive test result for COVID-19, or if you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace and instructed to self-isolate. This ranges from £1,000 to £10,000.

Failure to self-isolate in your accommodation as per the government regulations may also be a breach of the University's Handbook of Student Regulations and may result in disciplinary action ranging from a fine to possible expulsion in the most serious cases.

• The University will support you during your period of isolation which will start with a telephone call from the Student Life and Wellbeing team 
• If living in Northumbria accommodation, Sodexo will provide you with access to Circles – a 24/7 concierge service 
• When you registered/enrolled you will have been asked to abide by a student code of conduct which included expected levels of behaviour 
• The University takes incidences of rule-breaking extremely seriously and breaches of these rules may result in disciplinary action against you, which could result in the most serious cases, suspension or removal from your course 
• Police have a wide range of powers to implement these rules, including starting fines at £1,000 but could increase but could increase to up to £10,000 for repeat offences 
• Fines have already been issued by the police against students, for taking part in activities which are against these guidelines 

• We have set up a system to support students who are self-isolating, whether they are a confirmed case or are isolating as a precautionary measure.
• To access this support you will first need to advise us that you are self-isolating through our online Report. Record. Support. form.
• From here, a member of the Student Welfare team will contact you regarding the number of people living in your private accommodation and the support required.
• From here we will provide a support package which includes a food parcel for your entire flat, for every week you are isolating, for up to two weeks. Orders are required by Monday and Wednesday for delivery by a team from our Students’ Union.
• These food parcels contain the essential supplies you require, such as fresh fruit and vegetables and staple food cupboard items. We will try to accommodate dietary requirements where possible, but this cannot be guaranteed.
• Before this service is provided, you will need to declare that you are isolating and abiding by government requirements. You are able to opt out of this service if you wish, but should be aware that no alternative financial or support package will be available.
• You will also receive weekly welfare calls from the University’s Student Welfare team, who will route you into other University support services as required.
• If you are living in accommodation which is shared by both Northumbria and Newcastle University students, please refer to your own university for the support package they provide.
• Support is also available to you if you are at our London and Amsterdam campuses. Please follow the same process to advise us that you are self-isolating through our online Report. Record. Support. form. and our Student Welfare team will be in touch to discuss your needs

• We have set up a system to support students who are self-isolating, whether they are a confirmed case or are isolating as a precautionary measure.
• To access this support you will first need to advise us that you are self-isolating through our online Report. Record. Support. form.
• From here, a member of the Student Welfare team will contact you regarding the number of people living in your university accommodation and the support required.
• If you are living in one of our university owned/managed accommodation blocks, you will be provided with a link to our University Concierge service. From here, you can order food and essential supplies up to a set value during your isolation period. These will be delivered to you normally within 24 hours. The concierge also offers laundry services. Should you wish to spend more than the set value you can do so, but will need to meet the cost of this from your own funds.
• If you live in nominated university accommodation, managed by Unite, Nido and others, please refer to the FAQ on self-isolating in private accommodation.
• During the two weeks of isolation you will receive regular welfare checks, as well as support from other University support services as required.
• Before the University Concierge service is provided, you will need to declare that you are isolating and abiding by government requirements. You are able to opt out of this service if you wish, but should be aware that no alternative support or financial package will be available.
• If you are living in accommodation which is shared by both Northumbria and Newcastle University students, please refer to your own university for the support package they provide.
• Support is also available to you if you are at our London and Amsterdam campuses. Please follow the same process to advise us that you are self-isolating through our online Report. Record. Support. form. and our Student Welfare team will be in touch to discuss your needs

• There is a local test site on Northumbria’s City Centre Campus which is available to students, staff and local residents.

• The centre is located in the main City Campus East carpark.
• You must book a test online to secure an appointment on the NHS testing and tracing website. You cannot turn up to the test site without an appointment.  
• If you do test positive or have to self-isolate, please remember to let us know via the Report, Record, Support process which enables us to offer you as much support as possible.
• If you have Covid-19 symptoms and are missing lectures, it is important to notify our wellbeing team of your self-isolation by completing our online form. Our team will then contact you to arrange to support your learning and any other support you need. 

We are Together Against Covid-19 

Your safety and wellbeing remain our number one priority and we are committed to ensuring we protect students and colleagues where we can. In the event that you show symptoms of COVID-19, need to quarantine or self-isolate, we have the following steps in place for you: 

REPORT Contact us by filling out the Coronavirus (Covid-19) form. You shouldn’t come onto campus and you should make sure to follow government guidance on isolating safely. If you are currently on placement, or are due to begin placement in the next 14 days, you must also inform your placement provider. 

RECORD We will use the information in the form to activate our track and trace procedures and assess the individual needs you have through your isolation. 

SUPPORT You will be given bespoke support package from us to ensure that your wellbeing, learning and teaching are protected throughout. 

You can find government guidance on COVID-19, including information about self-isolation and getting tested, here.  

As part of the Northumbria Community, we all have a role to play in keeping ourselves and our community safe, coming Together Against Covid-19.

• Newcastle and the surrounding areas currently have local restrictions in place to try to avoid the need for a full local lockdown across the region. 
• Should there be a full lockdown in Newcastle in future it is likely that all academic buildings would close and online delivery would recommence.  
• Our residences will remain open and the University will follow government advice regarding movement in and out of the city. 
• Residents will be provided with latest Government guidance on travel, which may impact their ability/decision on whether to return home or stay in university accommodation. 
• Support would be provided to all students who remain within our residences. The exact nature of this support would depend on Government guidance at the time. 

• Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have worked closely with Newcastle University, the City Council, Public Health England and other key agencies. 
• We will continue to engage with and follow the guidance of Public Health England and the Local Public Health Protection Team.  
• Any decision to close either University would be as a result of a thorough risk assessment process undertaken jointly between the University and Local Public Health Protection Team. 

• As we are setting up our accommodation in household family bubbles then anyone living in the same flat as someone who reports as displaying symptoms of a suspected case of Covid-19 would need to isolate as per government guidelines for 10 days. Household contacts must also isolate for 10 days. 
• Our residence team will be on hand to support residents through this period and to reassure that this remains a ‘suspected case’. 
• We will continue to promote regular cleaning, hand washing and hand sanitising. 

• As we are setting up our accommodation in household family bubbles then anyone living in the same flat as a confirmed case would need to isolate as per government guidelines for 10 days.  
• Where a student is required to self-isolate, they should not leave their household – which in this case will largely be the cluster flat in which they live. 
• The University will fully co-operate with the Local Public Health Protection Team and assist where possible as the student would also be required to provide details of who they have been in contact with via the track and trace system. 
• We will ensure these students have continued access to learning online and welfare support (including food) as required throughout their isolation. 
• Our residence team will be on hand to support residents through this period, promoting regular cleaning, hand washing and hand sanitising to prevent the spread of Covid-19 throughout the household. 

• Where a student is required to self-isolate, they should not leave their household – which in this case will largely be the cluster flat in which they live.
• We have set up a system to support students who are self-isolating, whether they are a confirmed case or are isolating as a precautionary measure.
• To access this support you will first need to advise us that you are self-isolating through our online Report. Record. Support. form.
• From here, a member of the Student Welfare team will contact you regarding a number of initiatives in place to support you during your period of isolation which includes support with food and personal hygiene items as well as academic and wellbeing support.
• Regular welfare calls will be made to the student(s) within the flat to stay in touch and keep up to date with their health and wellbeing. 

• The University will fully co-operate with the Local Public Health Protection Team and determine the measures to be implemented.   
• We have experience of working with Public Health England previously with meningitis outbreaks in our residences and are confident that a pragmatic approach in the best interests of our students would ensue. 
• As with individual confirmed cases, we are setting up our accommodation in household family bubbles. Anyone living in the same flat as a confirmed case would need to isolate as per government guidelines for 10 days.  
• These students would receive the full support of our residence teams.  
• Common areas would be closed as a matter of course, thoroughly deep-cleaned and not re-opened until confirmed appropriate with Public Health England. 
• In the event that we would have to close any of our residences, we have relationships with other accommodation providers in the city where we would safely re-house other residents.