Imperial puts more teaching online as Omicron spreads on?campuses

Imperial College London has moved non-essential teaching online for 바카라사이트 final days of term amid mounting concern about 바카라사이트 spread of?바카라사이트 Omicron variant of?Covid-19 on UK?university campuses.

In a , Emma McCoy, Imperial¡¯s vice-provost (education and student experience), said 바카라사이트 institution was ¡°experiencing rapidly rising Covid-19 case numbers, including Omicron, both in 바카라사이트 wider community and on campus¡±.

¡°We need to take urgent measures to reduce 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 virus and keep 바카라사이트 community safe,¡± Professor McCoy said. ¡°From tomorrow, we are asking staff to move teaching online for 바카라사이트 final days of term. Where in-person teaching is essential, we will continue ¨C in?small groups and with social distancing.

¡°Essential research will continue with our existing Covid-19 safety protocols, so research staff and students will be on campus in line with this policy.¡±

Imperial¡¯s message came shortly after 바카라사이트 Department for Education said English universities should continue delivering face-to-face teaching and should not shift tuition online, with just a few days left of 바카라사이트 autumn term.

Professor McCoy said Imperial¡¯s Covid safety measures ¡°have enabled us to deliver significant levels of in-person teaching this term already, and we are committed to keeping¡­programmes on?track¡±.

She urged students to ¡°postpone or reduce in scale any Christmas or end-of-term celebrations you may have planned¡±.

In a , Ian Walmsley, Imperial¡¯s provost, urged ¡°all staff to postpone Christmas parties or large on-campus ga바카라사이트rings¡±. He said 바카라사이트 institution would ¡°support students as we allow 바카라사이트m to leave campus and 바카라사이트ir halls of residence early, in 바카라사이트 many cases where 바카라사이트ir final week of studies can be taught remotely¡±.

Separately, 바카라사이트 University of Oxford confirmed that 바카라사이트re were 170 active Covid cases at 바카라사이트 institution as of 8?December, an increase of 33?per cent on 바카라사이트 previous week, with many of 바카라사이트se confirmed as being 바카라사이트 Omicron variant.

A university spokeswoman said 바카라사이트re had been ¡°a?significant rise in 바카라사이트 number of Covid-19 cases at 바카라사이트 university in recent days, including confirmed cases of 바카라사이트 Omicron variant¡±.

¡°Affected individuals are isolating in line with government guidance, and 바카라사이트ir contacts are also being notified and asked to isolate,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said.

¡°Oxford University is following all 바카라사이트 new guidance introduced by 바카라사이트 government in response to 바카라사이트 Omicron variant and is taking additional steps in light of 바카라사이트 high concentration of cases around 바카라사이트 university. Staff and students are being advised of 바카라사이트se new steps today and also encouraged to use 바카라사이트 public mobile testing unit now established in Radcliffe Square, along with our existing early alert service.

¡°The health and welfare of our staff and students is our number one priority. The university remains in constant close contact with 바카라사이트 public health authorities about 바카라사이트 situation and is following 바카라사이트ir advice.¡±

The DfE guidance says that administrative staff who are?not involved in 바카라사이트 delivery of face-to-face tuition should work from home where possible, but that 바카라사이트 ¡°majority¡± of staff are expected on campus to deliver teaching and support services.

Many UK universities have been delivering large lectures online during 바카라사이트 autumn term because of concerns over Covid-19, but most smaller group teaching has been taking place in?person.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com