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New Covid-19 guidance for the winter term

An update on our Covid-19 protocols following new guidance from the government

29th November 2021

With the move to contain the Omicron Covid-19 variant, and the wearing of face-coverings in shops and on public transport becoming a legal requirement again, we now need to all be more vigilant in our efforts to keep our university community safe.

To help keep the University open and teaching and learning in person, we require the wearing of face-coverings on campus (or an exemption card or sunflower lanyard if you have a hidden disability)*. With the winter break just around the corner, we want everyone to have a healthy and happy holiday; let’s work together to support and protect each other as well as ourselves.

Wearing of face-coverings on campus is required

The latest guidance from the Department of Education (DfE) on the adopting of wearing of face-coverings states that this should be compulsory in all corridors and communal spaces, including the library, unless exempt. Therefore, we are now requiring staff, students and visitors to wear face-coverings (or an exemption card or sunflower lanyard if you have a hidden disability)* when on campus.

Wearing face-coverings in workshops, laboratories, offices, teaching rooms and lecture halls has not been classed as mandatory but we are requesting our staff and students to do so, especially in more confined areas.

We also strongly encourage good hand hygiene and the use of hand-sanitisers, and fresh air ventilation where possible. Evidence suggests that Covid-19 transmission mainly happens indoors where people are close together, and we need to protect each other, even if people have no symptoms.

Covid-19 testing and reporting

Everyone attending campus should still be testing twice-weekly for Covid-19. 

LFD tests are available to collect from the Spark reception, or from our self-service collection points

Please report your test result - positive, negative or void - on the Covid-19 Gov.uk web page, registering Solent University as your place of study or work. 

If you receive a positive test or are required to self-isolate, please let us know. Students should email covid.support@solent.ac.uk and staff should inform their manager or business partner. 

Christmas and new year travel

Before travelling home this Christmas, please plan your journeys and take the appropriate precautions. 

There will not be a travel window this year, however, we encourage all staff and students returning home for the winter break to take a test before they travel.

Before you leave at the end of term, please pick up a box of test kits (7 tests) so that you are prepared to test at home before travelling back in January, in line with government guidelines.

Please keep an eye on government guidance over the winter break and check the portal before returning to Southampton in the new year, in case of any further updates. 

*Please note that the sunflower lanyard represents a hidden disability, not face mask exemption. For face mask exemption, we would suggest carrying a card. Find out more >