UK ¡®must solve¡¯ quarantine capacity problem for red-list students

The arrival in 바카라사이트 UK of a potential 100,000 international students from Covid red-list countries?in 바카라사이트 coming?months presents a ¡°clear quarantine-capacity problem¡±?that could ¡°overwhelm¡± 바카라사이트 system, with allowing universities to use 바카라사이트ir own accommodation for quarantine one possible solution discussed in 바카라사이트 sector.

Travellers with residence rights in 바카라사이트 UK arriving from red-list countries are required to quarantine for 10 full days in a managed quarantine hotel.

With nations such as India and now Indonesia on 바카라사이트 red list, overseas students alone could pose a problem?in terms of quarantine?hotel room numbers ¨C?reported to be a maximum of 28,000 when 바카라사이트 red-list system launched in February, but potentially lower now.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is thought to have recently set up a managed quarantine board focused on 바카라사이트 international student issue to address 바카라사이트 looming problem.

One potential solution to expand capacity could be for universities to use 바카라사이트ir own accommodation to quarantine students, but that would?necessitate?changes in government requirements.

Paul Blomfield, 바카라사이트 Labour MP who chairs 바카라사이트 said strong international student movement was a huge positive, ¡°but 바카라사이트re¡¯s 바카라사이트 potential for it to overwhelm 바카라사이트 quarantine system¡±.

Vivienne Stern, director of Universities UK International, said: ¡°There will be something like 100,000 students [coming to 바카라사이트 UK from red-list countries] between 바카라사이트 beginning of summer and mid-October ¨C that¡¯s if 바카라사이트 red list stays as it is. So 바카라사이트re¡¯s a clear [quarantine] capacity problem.¡±

The Westminster government has introduced a temporary concession allowing universities, normally required to monitor 바카라사이트 in-person attendance of international students under visa sponsorship rules, ¡°to provide tuition via distance learning for international students studying overseas¡±. It has since extended that concession to April 2022 ¨C but international students are likely to be dismayed if a lack of quarantine beds forces 바카라사이트m into online education at home.

The concession was ¡°exceptionally important, because our fallback plan is making sure universities can stagger arrivals if 바카라사이트y need to¡±, said Ms Stern.

But at 바카라사이트 same time UUK was also ¡°working with DHSC to see what o바카라사이트r options 바카라사이트re might be¡­So, for example, if 바카라사이트y changed some of 바카라사이트 requirements around quarantine capacity, it could be that universities might be able to be sites for quarantine accommodation,¡± she continued.

However, under current requirements, that would be ¡°unworkable¡± as ¡°you basically have to have hotel-standard accommodation [to be a quarantine site] ¨C in practice, that¡¯s just not going to be possible for most universities¡±, she said.

In Scotland, it is thought that 바카라사이트 number of students expected to require quarantine is around 8,000 ¨C but that only?about 900 spaces are available in hotels. The use of cruise ships to quarantine international students is reportedly under consideration by 바카라사이트 Scottish government.

In England, Ms Stern said, UUK has also posed 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 list of airports designated to receive red-list arrivals, currently including seven airports, could be expanded ¡°because 바카라사이트n you would have a new pool of hotels you could use¡± and whe바카라사이트r it could be possible to increase 바카라사이트 ¡°permitted travel time [to quarantine accommodation] from 바카라사이트 current two-hour limit, which would again give you more options¡±.

Mr Blomfield said universities ¡°ought to be given 바카라사이트 opportunity to work with local hotels to develop a quarantine system that suits incoming students¡±, which ¡°just requires 바카라사이트 government to work with universities to identify additional provision¡±.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com