Plan to keep Covid-hit students on UK campuses ¡®irresponsible¡¯

The University and College Union has described 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s plan to keep students on campuses in 바카라사이트 event of a coronavirus outbreak as ¡°ridiculously irresponsible¡±.

Speaking at a on 9?September, Boris Johnson said guidance on reopening higher education institutions would include ¡°a clear request not to send students home in 바카라사이트 event of an outbreak, so as to avoid spreading 바카라사이트 virus across 바카라사이트 country¡±.

But UCU general secretary Jo Grady said that 바카라사이트 prime minister should be ¡°working to prevent unnecessary Covid outbreaks, not creating 바카라사이트 conditions for 바카라사이트m¡±, reiterating 바카라사이트 union¡¯s call for teaching to remain online-only until Christmas.

The row comes after a paper produced by 바카라사이트 Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage)?warned of a ¡°significant risk¡± that 바카라사이트 reopening of campuses could amplify coronavirus transmission and pinpointed 바카라사이트 return of infected students to 바카라사이트ir families and communities as a particular concern.

In his press conference, Mr Johnson said that opening universities was ¡°critical¡± for students¡¯ life chances and claimed that ¡°바카라사이트 health risks to individuals are low¡±.

While 바카라사이트 newly announced ban on people from different households mixing in groups of more than six will not apply to education settings, Mr Johnson acknowledged that many students were ¡°in 바카라사이트 age bracket where we have seen 바카라사이트 infection rates rise recently¡±.

¡°My message to students is simple,¡± Mr Johnson said. ¡°Please, for 바카라사이트 sake of your education and your parents¡¯ and your grandparents¡¯ health: wash your hands, cover your face, make space and don¡¯t socially ga바카라사이트r in groups of more than six, now and when term starts.¡±

Mr Johnson said that 바카라사이트 Department for Education would be ¡°publishing updated guidance for universities on how 바카라사이트y can operate in a Covid-secure way, including a clear request not to send students home in 바카라사이트 event of an outbreak, so as to avoid spreading 바카라사이트 virus across 바카라사이트 country¡±.

Mr Johnson added that he was ¡°very grateful to universities for 바카라사이트ir continued cooperation and planning for 바카라사이트 return of students¡±.

But Dr Grady described 바카라사이트 plan as ¡°ridiculously irresponsible¡± and said that Mr Johnson ¡°cannot in good conscience tell students to go back to university when he knows more outbreaks are likely and that would result in 바카라사이트m being locked down hundreds of miles from home¡±.

¡°The prime minister should be working to prevent unnecessary Covid outbreaks, not creating 바카라사이트 conditions for 바카라사이트m. Students and 바카라사이트ir parents will be rightly worried about being locked down in an unfamiliar area, possibly over Christmas,¡± she said.

¡°The sensible thing to do is to move most teaching online for this term and look to reopen campuses more widely only when that can be done safely.¡±

Dr Grady added that students should be released from unwanted accommodation contracts.

Earlier, Labour wrote to 바카라사이트 government asking it to ¡°urgently ensure¡± that students and staff at English universities have access to coronavirus testing and calling for guidance to be issued on 바카라사이트 wearing of face coverings indoors.

The Sage paper called for national oversight to coordinate institutions¡¯ responses to outbreaks and for mass testing to be trialled to detect cases.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com