Dear students,
I wrote to those of you staying in Horton Halls last week and I would now like to follow up with you all. Firstly, I would like to reiterate my thanks for the care that you have all taken to abide by the latest Covid guidelines. I know it can be difficult to keep abreast of advice which is changing so rapidly, but your diligence and professionalism in keeping the St George’s community safe is much appreciated.
On 23 September we shared with you that several students had tested positive for Covid-19 in halls. A small number of other isolated cases have since been reported. All guidance is being followed, with those affected and their close contacts self-isolating, but it is crucial that we are all aware that Covid-19 is here in our community and remain mindful of the responsibilities we all hold for minimising the risk of transmission.
We are confident in the steps we’ve taken to make our site Covid secure, but we all have daily interactions with people outside our setting and it is essential for the safety of everyone that we are careful in how we manage these contacts.
You will have seen reports in the media over the past week about the challenges students are facing at other universities handling large outbreaks of Covid-19. We are in touch with Public Health England about our own Outbreak Management Plan, which we will review and develop on an ongoing basis.
Please be assured that we are here to offer you support. If you develop Covid-19 symptoms or need to self-isolate, you must contact the University via coronavirusconcern@sgul.ac.uk. Currently this account is only checked during office hours, but we are investigating options for extending monitoring and will share an update when available.
We will continue to be in touch with any updates. We’ve always had a strong community at St George’s and I encourage you all to look out for each other. It is a time when responsible behaviour and acts of kindness have never been more important.
With my warmest wishes,
Dr Aileen O’Brien
Dean of Students
St George’s, University of London
Your responsibilities
We each have a duty to protect ourselves and each other through the pandemic.
Washing your hands, wearing face coverings, keeping your distance and covering coughs and sneezes are among steps we must all be taking.
Please see further information about your responsibilities to take care and show care.
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 or your halls flat, and arrange a test through the government website or by calling 119.
You will need to inform Student Services at coronavirusconcern@sgul.ac.uk, so they can take necessary actions and support you in self-isolating.
If you are a student on clinical placement, you will also need to contact Occupational Health on 020 8725 1661 if you develop symptoms.
Please inform Student Services of the outcome of your Covid-19 test via coronavirusconcern@sgul.ac.uk.
- If it is negative, you are feeling well, you meet the NHS requirements for no longer needing to self-isolate and there is no further specific guidance you need to follow from your course team or Occupational Health, you can continue your studies as normal.
- If it is positive, Student Services will then help with Test and Trace. Continue to isolate and keep in touch with the University via coronavirusconcern@sgul.ac.uk.
Unless you receive a negative test result, all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house or flat for 14 days.
The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the household became ill.
Household members should not go to university, work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home.
Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.
If possible, vulnerable individuals (such as those with underlying health conditions) should be moved elsewhere for the duration of the isolation period. If you live in Horton Halls, you can discuss how to do so with Student Services.
Further information on household isolation.
What to do if you are informed a close contact has tested positively for Covid-19
If you have been informed that you are a close 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.
NHS Covid-19 app and QR codes on site
The NHS Covid-19 App was launched on 24 September 2020 and we encourage you to download it from the Apple App store or Google Play. Further information about the app can be found at https://covid19.nhs.uk.
To assist with Test and Trace, NHS QR code posters are now displayed around campus, allowing staff and students to check in to areas using the new NHS Covid-19 App. QR codes will be an important way for NHS Test and Trace to contact multiple people if coronavirus outbreaks are identified in specific areas.
Universities have been encouraged to display posters in communal areas where people are likely to congregate for more than 15 minutes and in close proximity. At St George’s, posters can be found in the following locations:
- Student Life Centre
- Social Learning Space outside the Library
- Dissecting Room Corridor
- Boardrooms 6, 7, and 8
- 6th Floor Hunter Wing foyer
- Multifaith & Quiet Contemplation Room
- Students’ Union Bar & Shop
When someone enters an area and scans the QR poster, the area information will be logged on the user’s phone. This information will stay on a user’s phone for 21 days and if during that time a coronavirus outbreak is identified at a location, the area ID in question will be sent to all devices. The device will check if users have been at that location and if the app finds a match, users may get an alert with advice on what to do based on the level of risk.
Support for your welfare and mental health
We know the uncertainties caused by the pandemic are worrying for everyone and urge you to reach out if you need help. For welfare support, please use one of the following routes:
Get support designed to support students with their wellbeing during coronavirus via webchat, text, email or phone support from 4-11pm at studentspace.org.uk.