Dear students and colleagues,
As we are approaching 12 April, step 2 of the government’s roadmap to ease lockdown restrictions, we wanted to highlight the changes that will occur from that date.
From 12 April:
- Non-essential retail and personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons will be able to reopen.
- Public buildings such as libraries and community centres will be able to reopen.
- Outdoor hospitality venues will be able to reopen, with table service only.
- Most outdoor attractions including zoos, theme parks, and drive-in performances will be able to reopen. Some smaller outdoor events such as fetes, literary fairs, and fairgrounds will be able to take place.
- Indoor leisure and sports facilities will be able to reopen for individual exercise, or exercise with your household or support bubble.
- All childcare and supervised activities will be allowed indoors (as well as outdoors) for all children. Parent and child groups can take place indoors (as well as outdoors) for up to 15 people (children under 5 will not be counted in this number).
- Weddings, civil partnership ceremonies, wakes and other commemorative events will be able to take place for up to 15 people, including in indoor venues that are permitted to open or where an exemption applies. Wedding receptions can also take place for up to 15 people, but must take place outdoors, not including private gardens.
- Self-contained accommodation will be able to open for overnight stays in England with your household or support bubble.
- Care home residents will be able to nominate two named individuals for regular indoor visits (following a rapid lateral flow test).
- You should continue to minimise the amount that you travel where possible.
Please note there is no immediate change to the University's current working arrangements. Our teaching and research continue as at present, with any on-site activities conducted in Covid secure ways. Work should continue to be done from home where possible.
The Students’ Union and University are discussing plans for reopening the Robert Lowe Sports centre. However, the building is currently being used for the asymptomatic testing centre and will not be reopening for indoor sports from the 12 April. We will provide further updates on this, and any other changes, as they become available.
Please see here for more details on the Government roadmap to ease restrictions.
Shielding
From 1 April 2021, the government has advised that clinically extremely vulnerable staff and students no longer need to shield. However, they should be diligent in ensuring they follow social distancing rules.
If extremely vulnerable or vulnerable individuals need to return to site, an individual risk assessment evaluating fitness to return can be completed and discussed with their line manager or course admin team. Further advice may be obtained from course admin teams and Human Resources.
Testing
As communicated previously, the University asymptomatic testing centre has been closed for the Easter break and will reopen on Monday 12 April. If you require a test before 12 April, you are encouraged to attend the Wandsworth community testing facility.
You can book a test at the Wandsworth facility via this link.
From 12 April, the onsite testing centre will reopen on Mondays and Thursdays. Those returning to St George’s are expected to take twice weekly tests to identify asymptomatic infections. The government has also strongly encouraged all students in term-time accommodation to get regular tests. This approach will help to maintain the safety of the St George’s community and continue the good progress made in suppressing virus transmission.
Please use this link to book an onsite test from 12 April.