Dear all,
As promised in today’s George’s Weekly, please find enclosed further information on the University’s Outbreak Management Plan and an update on working arrangements following the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday.
Outbreak Management Plan
St George’s, along with other universities, has prepared an Outbreak Management Plan to manage any outbreak of Covid-19 on campus.
The Plan, currently awaiting approval by Wandsworth Council's Director of Public Health, can be found here.
Covid-19 cases in Horton Halls
We have recently been made aware of a small number of students who have tested positive for Covid-19. All are self-isolating, along with their flatmates where relevant. NHS Test and Trace have identified a handful of close contacts outside their households and are in touch with nearly all of them, who are also self-isolating.
Halls residents were advised of one of these cases last week and the new ones are linked. We are continuing to monitor the situation, working closely with Public Health England.
Students have been made aware of the situation earlier today and been advised of their responsibilities to minimise the risk of transmission. A full copy of this message can be found here.
Working arrangements following the Prime Minister’s statement
Yesterday, the Prime Minister outlined additional requirements for organisations and individuals to abide by in workplaces.
One of these requirements is that office workers who can work effectively from home should do so.
The new guidelines also make clear that employees working in essential services, including in educational settings, should continue going to work where necessary.
Following a meeting of the Covid-19 Steering Group on Wednesday afternoon, it has been agreed by the Group that the University’s current phase of return to site, (Phase 3), broadly corresponds with these guidelines.
Staff should therefore continue to work according to their current arrangements as agreed with your line manager. Further details on Phase 3 working arrangements can be found here.
For staff working on-site, it is very important that if you have any symptoms of Covid-19 that you should stay at home. Further guidance on symptoms and what to do if you are displaying any of these is enclosed below.
Symptoms of Covid-19
The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are recent onset of any of:
- A new continuous cough
- A high temperature
- A loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
If you or anyone in your household does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS by calling 111 or on the NHS website.
What to do if you develop symptoms of Covid-19, or you live with someone with symptoms
If you develop symptoms of Covid-19, you must self-isolate immediately, by staying in your home, and arrange a test through the government website or by calling 119.
You will need to inform HR on hrhelp@sgul.ac.uk, along with your line manager, with any dates and times you have been on-site.
This flow chart sets out what to do.
What to do if you are informed a contact has tested positively for Covid-19
If you have been informed that you are a contact of a person who has had a positive test result for Covid-19, you must self-isolate for 14 days from the date of your last contact with them. You are at risk of developing Covid-19 for the next 14 days. Since we now know that people can become infectious up to two days before symptoms begin, you could spread the disease to others if you do not go into self-isolation. Further guidance can be found here.
I thank you all for the actions you are taking in your everyday lives to take care of yourself and show care to others during this time.
With warmest wishes,
Professor Jenny Higham
Principal