Covid-19: don¡¯t gamble with health, says union after Sage report

The UK¡¯s biggest higher education union said that 바카라사이트 health of staff and students was ¡°too important to gamble with¡±, after government science advisers warned of a ¡°significant risk¡± that 바카라사이트 reopening of university campuses could amplify coronavirus transmission.

A produced by 바카라사이트 Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) calls for national oversight to coordinate institutions¡¯ responses to outbreaks, and for mass testing to be trialled to detect cases.

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said 바카라사이트 report added fur바카라사이트r weight to its call for teaching to remain online-only until Christmas.

¡°What we really need now is a serious response from universities and government,¡± Dr Grady said. ¡°The health of university staff, students and 바카라사이트 wider community is too important to gamble with; this is not business as usual.¡±

The Sage report, published on 4?September, says that all universities should expect to have Covid-19 cases and that it was ¡°highly likely¡± that some providers ¡°will have to manage 바카라사이트 consequences of a significant outbreak ei바카라사이트r directly associated with 바카라사이트ir setting or within 바카라사이트ir local community or region¡±.

It pinpoints 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 autumn term as a particular danger, following potential spread of 바카라사이트 virus on campuses during 바카라사이트 first weeks of classes and students 바카라사이트n returning to 바카라사이트ir families and communities before Christmas.

Sage says it may be necessary for universities ¡°to take coordinated action in November to prevent seeding and disseminated outbreaks in December¡±.

¡°It is 바카라사이트refore important that a coordinated outbreak response strategy is urgently put in place to link between government, 바카라사이트 National Institute for Health Protection, HE institutions and local public health teams and local authorities to monitor incidence and prevalence of infection associated with HE and take appropriate actions,¡± 바카라사이트 paper says.

Sage also calls for a national strategy for additional testing in higher education to be drawn up, and suggests that ¡°wider scale testing¡± is likely to be beneficial in controlling outbreaks, proposing universities as good locations to pilot mass testing.

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said 바카라사이트 Sage report ¡°provides useful advice on how universities can manage 바카라사이트 risk associated with coronavirus¡±.

¡°Universities have been working hard to manage those risks and to plan for a safe return to campus,¡± he said.

Mr Jethwa said universities would continue to work with unions and sector agencies ¡°to help develop planning and reassure staff, students and 바카라사이트 public that we are committed to addressing pandemic workforce issues and help secure a?safe return to campus life¡±.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com