Universities are working together to help students make safer
plans for the end of term.
New covid-19 lateral flow tests, designed to diagnose people
without symptoms, will be provided to students who are planning
to travel home for the holiday.
Universities across Wales will also end the majority of 'in
person' lessons in the week ending 8th December,
allowing anyone who tests positive for coronavirus to
self-isolate for 14 days before travelling home for the Christmas
break.
Students at universities in Wales who plan to travel home for the
holidays will be asked to:
- minimise their social contacts in the run up to the end of
term;
- get an asymptomatic test, ideally within 24 hours of their
intended travel time. New asymptomatic testing facilities will be
available at participating universities in Wales within the next
few weeks;
- plan to travel no later than 9th December,
allowing time to rearrange their travel plans in case they need
to self-isolate;
- familiarise themselves with their university’s plans for
concluding in-person teaching and arrangements to ensure people
can exit campuses safely.
The governments of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland will
announce separately their plans for students living there. Each
government has worked together in recent weeks on these matters.
The Welsh Government will also communicate directly with Welsh
students at universities elsewhere in the UK.
, the Education Minister, said:
“Many students will wish to return home for the Christmas break
and I’m pleased to confirm arrangements to enable that. Our
priority, and the priority for our universities, has been to
enable students to travel home safely, while minimising the risk
of transmission of the coronavirus.
“It’s also important students take action to minimise the chances
they could bring the virus back home to friends and family
members, who may be far more vulnerable to its effects. That’s
why we’re asking students to limit their social contacts as
they’re preparing to travel home. The more people socialise, the
greater their risk of contracting coronavirus.
“We have been working with the other nations to ensure that all
students, no matter where they live or study, are treated fairly
and can travel home as safely as possible.
“We are also working with our universities to roll out the
asymptomatic mass testing pilot before the end of term. I would
encourage students to sign up for the testing pilot to make
returning home at the end of term easier.
“I have been determined that students here in Wales are able to
spend the holidays where they most want to, in a safe way, and
these arrangements will allow that to happen.”
