Minggu, 30 Agustus 2020

Coronavirus UK: Universities could become second wave ground zero - Metro.co.uk

University students graduating at Bath Abbey.
Academics have warned the Government is ‘encouraging a public health crisis’ (Picture: Getty)

Academics have warned universities could become a ground zero for a second wave of coronavirus unless they avoid face-to-face teaching.

The movement of an expected one million students around Britain as they return to universities in the next month has led the University and College Union (UCU) to warn the Government is ‘encouraging a public health crisis’.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said the mass movement ‘could lead to universities being the care homes of any second wave of Covid’.

She also accused the Government of a lack of planning, with more students expected on campuses following the admissions fiasco as data emerges that infection rates are increasing among younger people.

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Vickie Flores/LNP/REX (10486459l) UCU General Secretary, Jo Grady poses for a photograph after joining members of the University and Colleges Union (UCU) taking part in a protest and strike action outside City, University of London today. Lecturers and support staff across 60 universities in the UK are currently on an eight day strike, taking action in two disputes, one on pensions and one on pay and conditions. University staff strike at City University of London, UK - 27 Nov 2019
UCU general secretary Jo Grady warned universities could become the care homes of the next wave (Picture: Vickie Flores/LNP/REX)

‘So the very people who are increasingly getting infected by this virus are being encouraged in mass numbers to move all around the country and congregate and live together,’ Ms Grady said.

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‘It doesn’t make sense.’

The UCU wants students to avoid campuses until Christmas unless a testing scheme begins operating at universities.

It comes after a group of scientists recommended universities test all students and staff for coronavirus as they arrive on campus and avoid face-to-face teaching.

Independent Sage reported on August 21 that all courses should be offered online – apart from those which are lab or practice-based – as in-person teaching carries a higher risk of virus transmission.

The group also recommended socialising among students should be restricted to ‘residential bubbles’ in the first few weeks to prevent infection.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiVGh0dHBzOi8vbWV0cm8uY28udWsvMjAyMC8wOC8zMC91bml2ZXJzaXRpZXMtYmVjb21lLWdyb3VuZC16ZXJvLXNlY29uZC13YXZlLTEzMTk3NjYwL9IBWGh0dHBzOi8vbWV0cm8uY28udWsvMjAyMC8wOC8zMC91bml2ZXJzaXRpZXMtYmVjb21lLWdyb3VuZC16ZXJvLXNlY29uZC13YXZlLTEzMTk3NjYwL2FtcC8?oc=5

2020-08-30 07:32:00Z
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