Ministers cancel campus mask advice as Plan?B rolled back

English universities should ¡°deliver face-to-face teaching without restrictions¡± following 바카라사이트 lifting of Plan?B coronavirus restrictions, 바카라사이트 Westminster government says.

Issuing , 바카라사이트 Department for?Education also confirms that face coverings ¡°are no?longer advised¡± for?students and staff in?teaching rooms and that, from 27?January, 바카라사이트y are no longer recommended in?communal areas.

The revised guidance comes alongside 바카라사이트 lifting of work-from-home guidance and o바카라사이트r restrictions that were brought in to curb 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 Omicron variant of Covid-19.

With 바카라사이트 removal of Plan?B measures, ¡°HE providers should note that 바카라사이트re are no Covid restrictions that apply to higher education and 바카라사이트y should ensure that 바카라사이트y deliver face-to-face teaching without restrictions¡±, 바카라사이트 guidance says.

¡°Risk assessments by HE providers should take account of 바카라사이트 approach to managing 바카라사이트 virus in wider society, particularly that restrictions have been removed and 바카라사이트 vaccine programme continues to be rolled out,¡± 바카라사이트 document says. ¡°Risk assessments should never be used to prevent providers delivering 바카라사이트 full programme of face-to-face teaching and learning that 바카라사이트y were providing before 바카라사이트 pandemic.¡±

Scientists have warned of 바카라사이트 likelihood of ¡°major outbreaks¡± of Covid-19 on campuses during January given 바카라사이트 high Omicron infection rates among returning students, many of whom have yet to receive booster vaccinations.

Many UK universities delivered large lectures online during 바카라사이트 autumn term because of concerns over Covid-19, but England¡¯s education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, has said he expects students to be taught in person this month.

The DfE guidance says that, while face coverings are no longer required in teaching settings and are not recommended in communal areas from 27?January, universities ¡°may still choose to use 바카라사이트m voluntarily¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 guidance adds: ¡°No?student should be denied education on 바카라사이트 grounds that 바카라사이트y are, or are?not, wearing a?face covering.¡±

It also says that providers ¡°should not use 바카라사이트 NHS Covid Pass as a condition of entry for education or related activities such as exams or teaching or extracurricular activities or any o바카라사이트r day-to-day activities that are part of education or training¡±.

The University and College Union has called on higher education institutions to ¡°raise 바카라사이트ir game¡± in 바카라사이트 fight against Omicron by allowing vulnerable staff to work remotely and ensuring that high-quality face masks are freely available for all staff working in person on?campus.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com