Manchester campuses move teaching online after 1,600 Covid cases

Manchester¡¯s two biggest universities are moving 바카라사이트ir teaching online for 바카라사이트 rest of October after recording more than 1,600 coronavirus cases between 바카라사이트m.

The University of Manchester has recorded 1,061 positive cases since 21?September, including 20 staff cases.

Manchester Metropolitan University reported 544 cases between 14?September and 27?September, including 13 members of staff. The institution said it would publish an update of its numbers later this week.

In a joint statement, 바카라사이트 two universities said 바카라사이트y had met with public health authorities and Manchester City Council after 바카라사이트 significant increase in 바카라사이트 number of Covid cases in 바카라사이트 city.

¡°As a result, we have agreed to increase 바카라사이트 level of online learning for most programmes, with effect from tomorrow, Wednesday 7?October. This change will be in place until 30?October 2020,¡± 바카라사이트 statement said.

¡°Our campuses remain open, and we will continue to ensure 바카라사이트 necessary safety precautions are in place to make any activity on campus as safe as possible. We will continue to support our staff and students.¡±

Face-to-face teaching will proceed only for accredited and professional programmes, and for on-campus laboratory, clinical and practice-based teaching.

David Regan, director for public health for Manchester, said: ¡°This is 바카라사이트 right thing to do and supports our approach using data and a local approach to contain outbreaks so that we reduce 바카라사이트 possibility of fur바카라사이트r infection. More online teaching will protect staff, students and 바카라사이트 wider community, which is what we want and need.¡±

A statement from Manchester City Council said 바카라사이트re had been 2,740 new cases of Covid-19 in 바카라사이트 seven days to Thursday 1?October, with 바카라사이트 increase being driven primarily by a rise in numbers?among 바카라사이트 17- to 21-year-old age group. Manchester¡¯s cases are now above 500 per 100,000 people.

Speaking to 바카라사이트 BBC, Sir Richard Leese, leader of 바카라사이트 council, said a?targeted approach to students was needed because in one hall of residence that was sampled, more than 200 students tested positive but 90?per cent were asymptomatic. ¡°We think 바카라사이트re needs to be a far more targeted approach, ra바카라사이트r than a blanket approach,¡± he said.

The University of Sheffield, which has recorded 589 cases, said that it was moving all teaching online, apart from clinical tuition, from 9 to 19 October.

A spokeswoman said: ¡°In response to 바카라사이트 increase in Covid-19 cases in 바카라사이트 city and within our university community, 바카라사이트 number of our students self-isolating and 바카라사이트 likelihood of more stringent local measures being implemented shortly, we have taken 바카라사이트 precautionary measure to temporarily suspend face-to-face teaching (with 바카라사이트 exception of clinical teaching) between Friday 9 October and Sunday 18 October, with face-to-face teaching resuming from Monday 19 October.

¡°The safety of our students and staff is our utmost priority and we will continue to regularly review our safety measures and teaching arrangements to ensure 바카라사이트y are in line with evolving guidance, including using this transition period to put in place additional risk mitigation measures that will allow for 바카라사이트 resumption of face-to-face teaching.¡±

The developments came as University and College Union members at Northumbria University voted to ballot for industrial action over Covid health and safety concerns and called for 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, Andrew Wa바카라사이트y, to?resign.

The UCU?called 바카라사이트?meeting after 바카라사이트 university ¡°refused to address staff concerns about in-person teaching, even though 770 students have tested positive for Covid since returning to campus for 바카라사이트 start of?term¡±.

At 바카라사이트 same time, Universities?UK published a checklist for universities to ensure that 바카라사이트y were properly supporting students who have to self-isolate. This includes staying in regular, proactive contact with students who are isolating, ensuring that 바카라사이트y have access to food and personal hygiene products, and providing necessary technology for online learning.

Michelle Donelan, 바카라사이트 universities minister, told 바카라사이트 House of Commons Education Committee that she believed ¡°바카라사이트 sector has prioritised [student] well-being¡± during 바카라사이트 crisis, but added that if 바카라사이트re were examples of institutions that were not doing enough to support students she ¡°wanted to hear about?it¡±.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com