Solent Unviersity Southampton logo
Solent Unviersity Southampton logo

information for Solent students and staff

The Covid-19 pandemic impacted communities across the UK and globally, and while there are no longer restrictions in place, Covid-19 remains in active circulation and effort is still required to limit the spread.

In February 2022, the UK Government issued its Living with Covid-19 guidance for how England will continue to manage its Covid-19 response following the lifting of all restrictions in April 2022.

Solent University remains in regular contact with Public Health England and the Department for Education to ensure we follow and adhere to the latest guidance regarding managing the pandemic and living with Covid-19. Should any restrictions be re-introduced, the University will follow the guidance issued by the UK Government and will communicate this to staff and students at the earliest opportunity.

Solent University continues to implement the following control measures across all campuses:

  • provision of sufficient general ventilation,
  • provision of hand sanitisers in common areas and offices,
  • provision of free face-coverings,
  • encouraging use of face-coverings in communal areas, and
  • enhanced cleaning of frequent touch points.

The University asks staff and students to continue to practice good hand hygiene and remain mindful of any cold or flu-like symptoms. Please continue to notify the University if you test positive for Covid-19 by email: covid.support@solent.ac.uk or notify your manager.

It is vital that we protect both the University and the wider Southampton community, particularly those individuals who are vulnerable to the effects of infection. Representatives from the University attend the local Health Protection Board (HPB) and Universities Oversight Group (UoG) to stay informed of local developments and to share best practice in mitigating any risks from potential Covid-19 outbreaks.

If you are feeling unwell with Covid-19 symptoms or believe you may have been in close contact with someone with Covid, please take an LFD test. If you do test positive, please stay away from campus for at least five days and work from home if you are able to. Otherwise, staff should follow our normal sick leave policy.

As testing is no longer a legal requirement, we request that staff and students remain off campus if they believe they have Covid symptoms and may be infectious.

Government guidance states ‘Many people will no longer be infectious to others after five days. You may choose to take an LFD test from five days after your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you did not have symptoms) followed by another LFD test the next day. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, the risk that you are still infectious is much lower and you can safely return to your normal routine.’

Please follow the latest government guidance

Most people who were previously identified as clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) are now well protected after receiving their primary and booster vaccination doses. For most people who were CEV, you are no longer at substantially greater risk than the general population, and you are advised to follow the same guidance as everyone else on staying safe and preventing the spread of coronavirus, as well as any further advice you may have received from your doctor. We recommend anyone with an underlying health condition takes care to avoid contact with individuals with routine coughs, colds and other respiratory viruses.

There remains a smaller number of people who, despite vaccination, are at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19. This is due to a weakened immune system (immunosuppressed) or specific other medical conditions and requires enhanced protections such as those offered by antibody and antiviral treatments, additional vaccinations and potentially other non-clinical interventions. See guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk.

If you have any concerns, you should speak with your line manager and P&D business partner for guidance.

For members of staff who live with a household contact or receive notification via the Covid-19 app that they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19, we’re asking them to work from home if they can. If they can’t, they can come to campus but should wear a face-covering and be conscious of the fact that they may be a carrier themselves and not know it yet.

There are no requirements in place for students arriving in Southampton from other regions of the UK or from overseas to take a Covid-19 test or complete any forms.

If you are a student living in any of the Solent student residences and you test positive for Covid-19, are self-isolating, or are unwell with Covid-19 symptoms, contact the Residence Hub by emailing reshub@solent.ac.uk or calling 07778 345113 to notify them of your positive test/symptoms and for support during any self-isolation.

 
 

News and events