The Government has issued new Covid-19 lockdown restrictions - and this is what it means for students at Liverpool Hope University.
On Monday the Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new three tier plan in a bid to halt the spread of Coronavirus.
The Liverpool City Region has been placed in Tier 3, the highest level, with new restrictions for some pubs, gyms and casinos have now come into force.
Universities and schools, however, remain open.
Students at Hope will also continue to study predominantly online while remaining in residential ‘bubbles’ to limit social contact.
And Hope is committed to offering the utmost support to any residential students who find themselves having to isolate following either a positive test or contact with someone with the virus.
Dr Penny Haughan, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Life and Learning, said: “The University will continue to follow Government protocols in order to protect students and staff.
“As previously announced, lectures, tutorials and seminars will continue to take place online for the vast majority of students, except in very specialist subjects.
“We also want to reassure our students that we have in place a dedicated Covid Pastoral Care team who are committed to offering support and guidance to anyone with concerns.
“If a student finds themself having to isolate, the Covid Pastoral Care team will make contact daily on a daily basis, making sure people have plenty of food, offering laundry services, arranging deliveries of post and signposting them to other services to improve wellbeing.”
If you suspect you’ve been in contact with someone with Coronavirus, or have been experiencing symptoms - which you can check here - it’s important you contact Hope’s Covid Control Team.
You can do this either by filling in an online form or simply emailing covid@hope.ac.uk
If you’re confused about what the local restrictions actually mean to your everyday life, the Government has also revealed a postcode checker - which you can access here.
This service will redirect you to your specific local council’s web pages, where you’ll be able to find details about everything you can and can’t do while the restrictions remain in place for the next four weeks.
Meanwhile Dr Haughan has also sent a letter to students reminding them of the vital role they play in protecting both themselves and others.
It reads: “I ask you in the strongest possible terms to follow these Government requirements. We need to work together, with others in the City, to protect our community and to prevent any further spread of the virus.”
Regarding the future resumption of face-to-face teaching at Hope, Dr Haughan adds: “At Hope we will be continuing with teaching as it is currently scheduled and will review these
arrangements as previously agreed in the w/c 26 October.
“As you know, it is our intention to reintroduce more face to face teaching, but we will only do this when it is safe to do so. We will of course consider the new restrictions when making these decisions.
“At present it is unclear how long Liverpool will be kept in the Tier 3 category so the arrangements will need to be flexible as we move forward.”
University resources such as the library and catering services remain available - as is mental health support, financial advice, careers expertise and disability support.
Dr Haughan reassures: “Rest assured that we will do everything we can to support you.
“Continuing with your studies is one way that you can move your life forward in this period and I would encourage you to maintain a work pattern during these unusual times we are living in.
“I am so pleased to see so many of you using this time to immerse yourselves in your studies. I would strongly encourage you to continue to engage with your tutors and deepen your academic experience.”
Students have also signed a ‘Student Commitment Declaration’, which binds them to a range of commitments including following Covid-19 social distancing rules, not organising or attending on or off-campus parties and wearing a face covering when in public areas.
Hope has launched its own track and trace initiative - the ‘SafeZone’ app - in order to protect the entire Hope family.
Meanwhile students have been allocated to learning bubbles and there are residential bubbles for those in halls.