Lockdown measures in north-east England are to be tightened in a bid to halt the rise in Covid-19 cases.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said tougher restrictions were being brought in than those imposed a week ago.
He said mixing between households in any indoor setting, which people are currently advised to avoid, will be against the law from Wednesday.
The incident rate of Covid infections in the region is now more than 100 cases per 100,000.
Mr Hancock told the House of Commons that cases in the region had "risen sharply".
Under the regulations that came into force on 18 September, almost two million people in Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, and County Durham were banned from socialising with other people outside of their own households or support bubbles in private homes and gardens.
They were also advised not to socialise with people outside of their household in any public venue, but that was only guidance and not banned under law.
Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues also remain limited to table service only and have a 22:00 curfew.
Mr Hancock said: "Unfortunately the number of cases continues to rise sharply.
"We know that a large number of these infections are taking place in indoor settings outside the home. And so, at the request of the local councils with whom we have been working closely, we will introduce legal restrictions on indoor mixing between households in any setting."
Mr Hancock did not say whether visits to other households for informal childcare - such as grandparents looking after children - will still be permitted under the revised rules.
Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes criticised the Health Secretary for the manner in which the announcement was made.
"While we have been in discussions with the Government on potential further restrictions, the Secretary of State has once again stood up and announced changes without telling us he was about to do so," he said.
"We want to work constructively with the Government but the way these measures are being communicated in headlines and without detail does nothing for public confidence.
"We have demanded clarity on the new restrictions, testing and support for those businesses most affected."
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Household mixing in any setting is to be made illegal in the north east of England as the number of coronavirus cases "continues to rise sharply".
Addressing MPs in the Commons, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the existing COVID-19 measures were being tightened at the request of local councils.
The beefing up of coronavirus restrictions will take effect from midnight on Wednesday and will apply to Northumberland, Newcastle, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham.
It will be enforceable by law, with fines for those found to be flouting the rules.
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It was already illegal for two households to mix indoors or in the garden, but it was only guidance that they should not meet a public venues like restaurants and pubs.
"The incident rate across the area is now over 100 cases per 100,000," Mr Hancock said.
More from Covid-19
"We know that a large number of these infections are taking place in indoor settings outside the home.
"And so at the request of the local councils, with whom we have been working closely, we will introduce legal restrictions on indoor mixing between households in any setting.
"We do not take these steps lightly.
Scientist: Non-vulnerable should be able to mix
"But we must take them and take them now because we know that swift action is more likely to bring the virus under control.
"The quicker we can get this virus under control, the quicker we can restore the freedoms we all enjoy in the north-east and across the country."
The announcement comes as new local lockdowns, further restrictions and new fines came into force across parts of the UK.
A minister suggested earlier that tighter social restrictions could be imposed if infections continue to rise.
People in England are now legally required to self-isolate if they test positive for COVID-19 or are told to do so by the test and trace service.
Those who do not comply risk being fined £1,000, increasing up to £10,000 for repeat offenders or serious breaches.
Anyone who tests positive and then knowingly provides false information about their close contacts will also be fined.
Helen Whately told Sky News that "we don't want to" bring in measures taking the UK back towards a second national lockdown but cautioned the government was keeping a "constant eye" on cases.
It follows a report in The Times that a "total social lockdown" could be enforced across much of northern Britain and London.
Measures reportedly being considered include more restrictions on people from different households meeting indoors, and shutting pubs and restaurants - initially for two weeks.
Schools, shops and offices would remain open, according to the newspaper.
It quoted a senior government source as saying the nation and Conservative MPs weren't "ready" for such action but it "will have to come".
Ms Whately did not deny the plan is being considered.
"We have an opportunity - a choice - as a country to get this back under control again," she told Kay Burley.
"This is our moment in time to make sure we're doing social distancing and the rule of six. That's how we control it."
Three more council areas in South Wales went into local lockdown from 6pm on Monday - Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Bans on households mixing came into force in Wigan, Stockport, Blackpool and Leeds on Saturday.
Rantzen: 'Care home visits important'
Stricter rules are already in places across large parts of north west England, West Yorkshire, the North East and the Midlands, as well as in areas of west Scotland.
It means that an estimated 17.8 million people across the UK are now living under additional COVID-19 measures, on top of those already announced by the prime minister.
A recent nationwide change has been the imposition of a 10pm curfew for pubs, bars and restaurants.
But ministers are coming under growing pressure to review the rule, amid criticism it is leading to people filling the streets en masse when venues close.
Labour is calling for a "rapid" review of the curfew.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has told Sky News he fears the rule could be proving "counterproductive" in the fight against the virus.
"If this isn't doing what it intended to do, then surely it's right to adjust it or even remove it altogether," he said.
The beefing up of restrictions will take effect from midnight on Wednesday and will apply to Northumberland, Newcastle, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham.
It will be enforceable by law, with fines for those found to be flouting the rules.
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It was already illegal for two households to mix indoors or in the garden, but it was only guidance that they should not meet a public venues like restaurants and pubs.
"The incident rate across the area is now over 100 cases per 100,000," Mr Hancock said.
More from Covid-19
"We know that a large number of these infections are taking place in indoor settings outside the home.
"And so at the request of the local councils, with whom we have been working closely, we will introduce legal restrictions on indoor mixing between households in any setting.
"We do not take these steps lightly.
"But we must take them and take them now because we know that swift action is more likely to bring the virus under control.
"The quicker we can get this virus under control, the quicker we can restore the freedoms we all enjoy in the north-east and across the country."
It comes after a minister suggested that tighter social restrictions could be imposed if infections continue to rise.
Helen Whately told Sky News that "we don't want to" bring in measures taking the UK back towards a second national lockdown but cautioned the government was keeping a "constant eye" on cases.
It follows a report in The Times that a "total social lockdown" could be enforced across much of northern Britain and London.
Measures reportedly being considered include more restrictions on people from different households meeting indoors, and shutting pubs and restaurants - initially for two weeks.
Schools, shops and offices would remain open, according to the newspaper.
It quoted a senior government source as saying the nation and Conservative MPs weren't "ready" for such action but it "will have to come".
Ms Whately did not deny the plan is being considered.
"We have an opportunity - a choice - as a country to get this back under control again," she told Kay Burley.
"This is our moment in time to make sure we're doing social distancing and the rule of six. That's how we control it."
Three more council areas in South Wales went into local lockdown from 6pm on Monday - Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Bans on households mixing came into force in Wigan, Stockport, Blackpool and Leeds on Saturday.
Stricter rules are already in places across large parts of north west England, West Yorkshire, the North East and the Midlands, as well as in areas of west Scotland.
It means that an estimated 17.8 million people across the UK are now living under additional COVID-19 measures, on top of those already announced by the prime minister.
Britain today recorded 4,044 more cases of coronavirus as official figures revealed the daily average number of infections has dropped for the first time in a fortnight.
Government data shows 5,770 people are now testing positive for Covid-19 each day, down from 5,816 yesterday — a figure that had risen every day since falling slightly to 2,998 on September 14. For comparison, the rolling-seven day average number of new cases stood at 3,929 last Monday after 4,368 infections were recorded.
Infections have risen consistently since July 4, when hundreds of thousands of Britons flocked to pubs, bars and restaurants to celebrate 'Super Saturday' after they were finally allowed to re-open following months of being shut to contain the life-threatening virus. But they are still nowhere near levels seen during the darkest days of Britain's Covid-19 crisis in March and April, when top scientists estimate more than 100,000 cases were truly occurring each day.
Health chiefs today also recorded 13 more coronavirus deaths, taking the total number of laboratory-confirmed victims who have died within 28 days of being diagnosed past 42,000. Only the US, Brazil, India and Mexico, all countries with substantially larger populations, have suffered more fatalities.
Yesterday 17 deaths were declared, down from 34 on Saturday, although fatalities are normally lower on Sundays and Mondays due to a lag in how they are recorded. The rolling average number of deaths stands at 30, up from 22 last Monday and 12 the week before that.
Until recently, hospitalisations and deaths had remained low and stable despite soaring infections. But both have since started to spike. Some 314 newly-infected patients needed NHS treatment in England on September 23 — the highest figure since June. And daily fatalities reached a 10-week high last Thursday — when 40 deaths were recorded for the first time since July 14.
NUMBER 10'S 10PM CURFEW IS BRANDED A 'SICK EXPERIMENTAL' BY TORY MPS
Boris Johnson's 10pm coronavirus curfew was branded a 'sick experiment for a second wave' by his own MPs - as the mayor of one of the UK's biggest cities warned it was doing 'more harm than good'.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said the government's drinking deadline was pushing crowds into supermarkets to buy booze to drink on the curbs or in homes.
It came as scores of drinkers were spotted in trendy Moseley, Birmingham, on Saturday night twirling around to a brass bands, despite restrictions urging social distancing.
The PM's curfew - which he announced last week - has been widely panned due to these predicable consequences.
One Tory MP texted Politico: 'Which clown-faced moron thought it would be a good idea to kick thousands of p***** people out from the pubs into the street and onto the tube at the same time?
'It’s like some sort of sick experiment to see if you can incubate a second wave.'
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In other twists in the coronavirus crisis today:
Boris Johnson is facing a mounting Tory rebellion over the crackdown and dodging parliamentary scrutiny - although Speaker Lindsay Hoyle is expected to spare him from a humiliating Commons defeat on coronavirus powers by refusing to call a vote on a rebel amendment;
No10 has tried to cool the row over students being forced to self-isolate, insisting it 'expects' they will be allowed to return home at Christmas;
Former minister Simon Clarke has signed a letter with other Teesside MPs warning that a ban on households mixing would 'condemn thousands of local people to loneliness and isolation'.
Tory MP Steve Baker compared Mr Johnson to Lord of the Rings character Theoden, who was put into a trance by evil advisers who plunged the kingdom into chaos;
Downing Street has insisted it is still too early to judge whether the Rule of Six is working, even though a two-week timeframe was given for assessment when it was introduced on September 14;
NHS Providers chief Chris Hopson warned the government needs to be carrying out a million tests a day by winter, and the contact tracing system is now as important as catching criminals or putting out fires.
It comes after official data revealed restaurants and pubs were to blame for fewer than three per cent of all recorded outbreaks of respiratory illnesses in the week Boris Johnson announced the 10pm curfew on the hospitality sector.
Just 22 outbreaks of acute respiratory infections were reported in food outlets in England between September 14 and 20. Seventeen of these were confirmed to be down to Covid-19, while the others could have been flu or other viral illnesses.
The Public Health England data provides a snapshot of where viruses are spreading across the country.
In a weekly update on outbreaks in different settings, PHE reports situations where two or more people have been diagnosed with the same chest infection and the cases reported to local councils' public health teams. Outbreaks can vary considerably in size and data is not published about how many people are involved in each.
Public Health England showed that the majority of Covid-19 outbreaks happened in schools and care homes in the week to September 20. Just three per cent were reported from pubs and restaurants
Bolton is still Britain's Covid-19 hotspot after suffering more than 200 cases per 100,000 in the last week. Other areas of Britain hit by local lockdowns have also seen infections continue to rise, despite having had tougher measures imposed
LOCAL LOCKDOWNS AREN'T WORKING, DATA SHOWS
Data shows that Luton is the only area in England which has successfully managed to drive down cases far enough for the draconian rules to be lifted - but its infection rate is starting to climb again
Economically-crippling and socially-constraining local lockdowns are failing to curb coronavirus outbreaks, analysis shows.
More than 17million Britons in 48 towns, cities and boroughs are currently living with even more limited freedoms than the rest of the country.
Many have been barred from meeting friends or family indoors and university students in the locked-down areas are practically confined to their halls of residence.
Residents in these places have been told the rules are essential to suppress the virus, but data shows that Luton is the only area in England which has successfully managed to drive down cases far enough for the draconian rules to be lifted.
However, there are fears the Bedfordshire town could be slapped with restrictions once again after cases rose by a third in the last week, from 26 per 100,000 to 35.5 per 100,000.
Stockport and Wigan also managed to break free from the shackles of local lockdowns but had measures reimposed on Friday after infections rebounded. The other 46 regions in lockdown are all recording rises in infections, according to the latest Government data.
Bolton is still Britain's Covid-19 hotspot after suffering more than 200 cases per 100,000 in the last week. Cases have more than tripled in the last three weeks, despite the Greater Manchester town going into a local lockdown earlier this month.
The data is worrying because it implies the nationwide measures announced last week - including the 'rule of six' and 10pm curfew - do little to stop coronavirus's spread, at the expense of restricting people's freedoms and harming the economy.
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Restaurant and food outlet outbreaks trailed far behind schools and colleges, which accounted for 44 per cent of England's outbreaks – a total of 341. Care homes recorded 25 per cent of the week's outbreaks, a total of 195, followed by offices and factories, which saw 16 per cent – a total of 124.
Out of all 772 cough outbreaks recorded across the country in the week to September 20, 532 have been directly linked to coronavirus.
The figures come amid mounting concerns that closing pubs and restaurants at 10pm may lead to a spike in infections. Over the weekend drunk travellers were pictured crowding onto public transport at chucking-out time – they would likely have been spread out over longer time periods before the curfew.
Drinkers were also seen partying in the streets in London's Piccadilly Circus, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester after they were forced out by venues pulling down the shutters.
The Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, has warned the Government's draconian restriction is doing 'more harm than good' by pushing crowds into supermarkets to buy alcohol to drink on curbs or in their homes.
And landlords have also warned the measures could serve a 'death sentence' on businesses that are barely 'treading water' after losing months of trade during the UK's blanket lockdown.
Acute respiratory infection outbreaks - when two or more people have the same coughing bug - became eight times more common in the second week of September than in the first in England's schools (23 to 193).
Not all the outbreaks will be Covid-19 - they are chest infections more generally - but some are.
The high level of outbreaks in schools may be due to a resurgence in rhinovirus, which causes runny noses, Public Health England data suggests.
Its graph shows a major uptick in cases of this virus as children mix in schools, after spending months at home.
The data will likely pile more pressure on the Government to consider abandoning its 10pm curfew which has been accused of being 'dangerous' and 'creating an incentive for people to gather in the streets'.
Former Labour leadership contender Mr Burnham said: 'I received reports that the supermarkets were absolutely packed to the rafters, lots of people gathering after 10pm.
'I think there needs to be an urgent review of the emerging evidence from police forces across the country. My gut feeling is that this curfew is doing more harm than good.
'It's potentially contradictory because it creates an incentive for people to gather in the streets or more probably to gather in the home. That is the opposite of what our local restrictions are trying to do.
'I don't think this has been properly thought through to be honest and it also of course damages the bars and restaurants.'
His words were echoed by Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson. The city has seen its average number of daily cases almost treble in two weeks, pushing it on to the Government's lockdown watchlist.
Slamming the Government's blanket approach, he said: 'You can't have off-licences and supermarkets open until midnight selling beer, and pubs emptying at 10pm, when people go to the off-licences, buy beer, drink either out in the street in large groups or go to houses, and drink in large groups. It will just spread the virus.
'The situation currently is making things more dangerous and not better.
'I think it's stupid to close restaurants at 10pm,' he said, adding that midnight would be 'more responsible' and that pub closures should be staggered.
One enraged Conservative MP also voiced his concern over the measures, telling Politico: 'Which clown-faced moron thought it would be a good idea to kick thousands of p***** people out from the pubs into the street and onto the tube at the same time?
'It's like some sort of sick experiment to see if you can incubate a second wave.'
Pictures showed thousands of revellers crowding onto England's streets and public transport this weekend after the curfew kicked in at 10pm.
Data from NHS Test and Trace reveals that between September 21 to 27 the most common place of transmission was reported as in the household, or being a visitor to another household.
The data also showed that coronavirus sufferers were most likely to report eating out or shopping prior to developing symptoms, followed by a holiday or living alone or with family.
Scientists are divided over the 10pm deadline which 'doesn't seem to be based on evidence', instead suggesting that it was arrived at using a trade-off between economic damage and a desire to curb the viral spread.
University students in Scotland have been told they can return home on a permanent basis if they are "struggling" with life on campus due to coronavirus. The default position, however, is that they should remain in their accommodation if possible. While students weigh up "should I stay or should I go?", what are the financial implications of their decision?
Can students end accommodation contracts early?
Yes. Emergency legislation passed earlier this year gave students the right to end their agreements for a coronavirus-related reason.
The Coronavirus (Scotland)(No2) Act applies both to university halls of residence and private purpose-built student accommodation.
Those who signed their agreement prior to 27 May need only give seven days notice in writing to their accommodation provider
If the agreement was signed after that date, they need to give 28 days notice.
They will be entitled to a refund of any rent that was paid in advance for the weeks beyond the notice period.
How much will students be out of pocket?
Students typically pay between £110 and £150 a week for a room in shared facility, self-catering accommodation
Universities Scotland says many students will have signed agreements prior to 27 May so will only lose a week's rent.
But those who made arrangements later in the year could lose £500 or more.
A majority of Scottish students apply for a university place after getting the results of their Highers which they took in S5, so in a normal year they apply for accommodation well in advance.
However, this year the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic may have led greater numbers than usual to delay making arrangements.
A substantial number may also have been waiting to see if they met conditional offers or were applying for a place using the clearing system.
These students will also receive a payment to their university accounts of £50.
It will be up to individual universities to decide if they will offer extra reimbursement to those who no longer wish to stay on campus.
The first minister has encouraged universities and other accommodation providers to be "as flexible as possible".
Ms Sturgeon has welcomed the University of Glasgow initiative - but stressed this was a matter for universities themselves and the Scottish government has not committed to funding such measures.
Will students get a place in halls of residence if they return later in the academic year?
If a student terminates their accommodation agreement there is no guarantee they'll get into the same room or hall if they return later.
The agreement will have ended - and the room itself may be reallocated.
The only way to retain a room is to carry on paying the rent, even though the student has chosen not to occupy it.
However, Universities Scotland says they can always reapply for a place in halls later in the academic year, and universities will do all they can can to support students.
What else should students consider before making their decision?
Nicola Sturgeon has urged students to "think long and hard" before deciding to return home on a more permanent basis.
If a student was self-isolating prior to returning, their family will also have to self-isolate for 14 days after they return.
The first minister said students should also consider how returning home might affect access to any in-person learning that was being offered.
She advised students to discuss their options with their university or college, and to reflect on whether it might be better to wait "a few more weeks" before making such a long-term decision.
About 40 universities around the UK have now reported coronavirus cases and thousands of students are self-isolating as the new term begins.
The University of Aberystwyth is the latest to suspend face-to-face teaching to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
But the prime minister's spokesman said students would be able to go home for the Christmas break.
In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon said ensuring students could go home at Christmas would be a priority.
Fee refunds
On whether students in England should receive a fees refund, for example if all their teaching teaching is online, the prime minister's spokesman said universities were autonomous and would make their own decisions about fees.
Some students have questioned why they were told to leave home and pay for accommodation when most teaching is being done remotely.
There are no official figures from the government, regulator or Universities UK - but a tracking of local reports suggests about 40 universities have had Covid cases so far - out of about 130 universities in total.
In Wales, the University of Aberystwyth said that from Monday in-person teaching would be temporarily suspended and courses would be taught online.
"This has been a difficult call which is partly driven by uncertainty surrounding the scale of spread within our community," said a university spokesman.
Online teaching
At Manchester Metropolitan University, all classes for first year and foundation year students will be online for the next 14 days.
Many universities had promised students a mix of in-person and online teaching, raising questions about whether they should get a refund if teaching is only online or if they should be paying for university accommodation if all their lessons are delivered remotely.
Labour shadow education secretary Kate Green said the option of student fee rebates should be kept "absolutely on the table".
She told the BBC she understood that students might feel they were not "getting the education they expected, that they've paid quite substantial fees for this", but accepted that many universities were "in very difficult financial circumstances".
Nicola Dandridge, of the Office for Students, said students "have legal rights" but tuition fee refunds are "a question for the government".
"If students feel they are not getting what was offered to them then they absolutely should raise that with their university and they also have the right to complain to the university ombudsman," she told BBC Radio 4 Today.
Joe Ward is a student at Manchester Metropolitan University - where students have said they were being prevented from leaving their accommodation by security guards and police.
"If I was made aware that this is how things would be and things would only be online then I definitely would have reconsidered going to university this year," Joe, who shares a flat with seven others, told the BBC.
"I would definitely like to think that there might be some sort of compensation, but at the same time I understand that for the university it is also quite difficult for them, it is all very new for them as well.
"It's difficult for both parties but we would definitely appreciate a bit more communication, which is starting to come through now but it's still early days."
His flatmate Natasha Kutscheruk said the initial lockdown "caused a lot of panic", saying the university "should have been prepared and organised before sending out an email saying we are locked down".
There have been Covid outbreaks in about 40 universities across the UK so far - and there's every chance that number will rise as more universities get the term under way.
It's not exactly the university experience that students imagined.
First years might be worried about going away from home, but they might now also be worried about not being able to get back, if they end up in an outbreak and are forced to self-isolate.
They were promised a mix of face-to-face and online teaching - but the balance seems to be shifting more towards online lessons.
This means even less in-person time with other students and staff and more hours cooped up in their room with online recordings and academic versions of Zoom meetings.
Universities are stuck in their own tight corner. They're under pressure from lecturers to switch to all online teaching and get students home, rather than create a loop-tape of Covid outbreaks.
But that would provoke angry demands for refunds over accommodation and fees.
Universities cherish their autonomy, but in this case it might feel as though they're waiting for someone else to make a decision for them.
Larissa Kennedy, president of the National Union of Students, has said the union had "long called for online learning to be the default".
A statement from Universities UK said: "The sector has put in place multiple safety and health measures - on campus and in student accommodation - to reduce risks.
"Some in-person teaching, support and social activities are being offered by most universities where it is possible to provide these in a social distanced way."
Coronavirus restrictions in Scotland currently ban people from visiting other households in their home - meaning students cannot return home to another address in Scotland from university accommodation for a short stay without a reasonable excuse, such as a family emergency.
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.
About 40 universities around the UK have now reported coronavirus cases and thousands of students are self-isolating as the new term begins.
The University of Aberystwyth is the latest to suspend face-to-face teaching and to deliver lessons online.
Health minister Helen Whately said "it must be really tough" for students, but they wanted outbreaks "under control".
But some students have questioned why they were told to leave home when most teaching is being done remotely.
In Scotland, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reassured students that it would be a priority that they should be able to return home for Christmas.
In England, Ms Whately said discussion about end-of-term plans was "some time off" - and that "it's down to all of us to get this under control so can spend Christmas with our families".
There are no official figures from the government or Universities UK on how many institutions are being affected by Covid outbreaks - but a tracking of local reports suggests about 40 universities have had cases so far.
In Wales, the University of Aberystwyth said that from Monday in-person teaching would be temporarily suspended.
"This has been a difficult call which is partly driven by uncertainty surrounding the scale of spread within our community," said a university spokesman.
At Manchester Metropolitan University all classes for first year and foundation year students will be online for the next 14 days.
Universities affected by coronavirus cases include:
Many universities had promised students a mix of in-person and online teaching - raising questions about whether they should get a refund if teaching is only online or if they should be paying for university accommodation if all their lessons are delivered remotely.
Labour shadow education secretary Kate Green said the option of student fee rebates should be kept "absolutely on the table".
She told the BBC she understood that students might feel they were not "getting the education they expected, that they've paid quite substantial fees for this", but accepted that many universities were "in very difficult financial circumstances."
Nicola Dandridge, of the Office for Students, said students "have legal rights" but tuition fee refunds are "a question for the government".
"If students feel they are not getting what was offered to them then they absolutely should raise that with their university and they also have the right to complain to the university ombudsman," she told BBC Radio 4 Today.
Joe Ward is a student at Manchester Metropolitan University - where students have said they were being prevented from leaving their accommodation by security guards and police.
"If I was made aware that this is how things would be and things would only be online then I definitely would have reconsidered going to university this year," Joe, who shares a flat with seven others, he told the BBC>
"I would definitely like to think that there might be some sort of compensation, but at the same time I understand that for the university it is also quite difficult for them, it is all very new for them as well.
"It's difficult for both parties but we would definitely appreciate a bit more communication, which is starting to come through now but it's still early days."
His flatmate Natasha Kutscheruk said the initial lockdown "caused a lot of panic", saying the university "should have been prepared and organised before sending out an email saying we are locked down".
There have been Covid outbreaks in about 40 universities across the UK so far - and there's every chance that number will rise as more universities get the term under way.
It's not exactly the university experience that students imagined.
First years might be worried about going away from home, but they might now also be worried about not being able to get back, if they end up in an outbreak and are forced to self-isolate.
They were promised a mix of face-to-face and online teaching - but the balance seems to be shifting more towards online lessons.
This means even less in-person time with other students and staff and more hours cooped up in their room with online recordings and academic versions of Zoom meetings.
Universities are stuck in their own tight corner. They're under pressure from lecturers to switch to all online teaching and get students home, rather than create a loop-tape of Covid outbreaks.
But that would provoke angry demands for refunds over accommodation and fees.
Universities cherish their autonomy, but in this case it might feel as though they're waiting for someone else to make a decision for them.
Larissa Kennedy, president of the National Union of Students, has said the union had "long called for online learning to be the default".
"If [students'] quality of learning is severely impacted then we also need to see tuition fees reimbursed," she said.
Minister Ms Whatley said universities were "working very hard" so students could go "back to combination" of online and face-to-face learning and socially distanced socialising.
Coronavirus restrictions in Scotland currently ban people from visiting other households in their home - meaning students cannot return home to another address in Scotland from university accommodation for a short stay without a reasonable excuse, such as a family emergency.
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.
