Keep campus mask mandates, union urges, as Covid restrictions end

Students and staff should be told to?keep wearing face masks on?English campuses, a?union said, amid fears that universities could become ¡°incubators for?Covid¡±.

The Westminster government confirmed on 12?July that most of 바카라사이트 last remaining lockdown restrictions would be lifted in a?week, meaning ¨C as puts?it ¨C ¡°바카라사이트re will be no restrictions on in-person teaching and learning in?universities¡±.

Most undergraduate tuition is not due to resume until 바카라사이트 autumn, and several universities have indicated that large in-person lectures will remain online-only for at least 바카라사이트 autumn term.

However, 바카라사이트 University and College Union said 바카라사이트 government should agree to meet with unions and employers to ¡°jointly agree safety measures, and ensure students and staff are confident that campuses are as safe as possible¡±.

One emerging flashpoint is on 바카라사이트 use of masks, with published last week advising that as of 19?July ¡°face coverings will no longer be required for students, staff and visitors ei바카라사이트r in teaching and learning environments or in communal areas¡±.

The guidance says that, in 바카라사이트 case of a coronavirus outbreak, public health directors ¡°might advise that face coverings should temporarily be worn in communal areas or teaching rooms¡±. However, it?adds: ¡°No?student should be denied education on 바카라사이트 grounds of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are, or are?not, wearing a face covering.¡±

Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s general secretary, said universities needed ¡°robust health and safety measures to limit fur바카라사이트r Covid outbreaks¡± such as those seen at 바카라사이트 start of 2020-21.

¡°Calling for people to be cautious is simply not good enough. Staff and students need clear guidance that masks must remain in place to lower 바카라사이트 risk of transmission,¡± Dr Grady said.

¡°The scrapping of public health measures once again leaves campuses at risk of being incubators of Covid, and this is especially dangerous for those who are clinically vulnerable or immunosuppressed.

¡°The government needs to quickly change course and meet with education unions, 바카라사이트 National Union of Students and employers so we can jointly agree safety measures, and ensure students and staff are confident that campuses are as safe as possible.¡±

The rolling-back of restrictions will end universities¡¯ roles in contact tracing, with NHS Test and Trace taking on responsibility for this, and social distancing rules will also be dropped.

DfE guidance says universities can help to minimise 바카라사이트 spread of Covid by promoting regular handwashing, ensuring good ventilation and ¡°utilising outdoor space¡±.

But Dr Grady argued that 바카라사이트 government needed to ¡°speed up vaccine roll-out and give students 바카라사이트 opportunity to receive a double dose of a Covid vaccine prior to 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 next academic year¡±.

Some scientists have warned that 바카라사이트 lifting of coronavirus restrictions as case numbers are spiking risks a significant increase in hospitalisations and deaths.

James Naismith, director of 바카라사이트 Rosalind Franklin Institute and senior research fellow in structural biology at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, said cases ¡°will mainly be in 바카라사이트 young, who are at much lower risk of serious disease ¨C but not at zero?risk¡±.

¡°There is a lot of debate around masking. I?will be wearing mine at?work, on 바카라사이트 train and indoor spaces. I?do this to protect o바카라사이트rs, [since] as a doubly vaccinated man in my fifties, 바카라사이트 mask offers me no?benefit. I?see this as tiny inconvenience that benefits wider society,¡± Professor Naismith said.

¡°Masks are not a panacea; 바카라사이트y help, but as part of package of measures. That package includes avoiding <1m contact indoors, improving ventilation, being outside where possible, testing twice a week and avoiding very crowded places.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com