Hiatus

UniCovid.UK is now on hiatus.

Unfortunately, we’ve run out of time and energy, given other obligations professional and personal. And to some extent we have succeeded in what we originally wanted to do: have universities be open about the number of Covid-19 cases on their campuses and amongst their staff and students.

Depending on how events unfold, most especially whether the Vice Chancellors attempt to enforce face to face teaching in January, we may return. But until the new year, the site will not be updated.

In the meantime, please check UCU’s Covid Case Dashboard, and report any infomation and internal reports to them.

Thank you to everyone who has contacted us for your help and support; without you, this wouldn’t have happened, and there would have been even more dissimulation and bullshit from the VCs.

News Reports, 2 November 2020.

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News Reports.

2 November 2020: University of Bath: “The daily reports covering the period from October 28 to November 1 have recorded a total of 67 new cases, all of them being found among students.” Somerset Live.

30 October 2020: Bristol University: “Bristol University reported 36 new coronavirus cases across students and staff on Friday, bringing the total number of reported cases on campus to 1,694 as the UK prepared to enter a second national lockdown.” Epigram.

30 October 2020: University of Roehampton: “11 students and 1 member of staff have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last seven days.” Source: Internal communication. Our running total: 26 students, 3 staff testing positive.

University Trackers.

30 October 2020: University of Bedfordshire have 1 live staff case, and 7 live student cases, and 8 students self-isolating with symptoms.

30 October 2020: Bournemouth University: “We are continuing to see a small number of new cases at the university. The number of new positive cases at the university in the last seven days stands at 47 across the whole BU population of 1,723 staff and 16,606 students.” By our count, the cumulative total is 341 cases.

2 November 2020: Kingston University: “Number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported to the University in the week up to Friday 30 October: 16.” Our running total: 50 cases.

Current totals:

119 Universities have reported coronavirus cases.
96 in England.
1 in Northern Ireland.
14 in Scotland.
8 in Wales.

As at 9am 2 November 2020, our data puts the number of confirmed cases for students at 34,555, for staff 913, in total 35,468.

As at 9am 2 November 2020, the UCU dashboard reported 35,547 confirmed covid cases at U.K. universities.

News Reports, 29 October 2020.

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News Reports.

26 October 2020: Durham: “The latest figures released by the university as part of its weekly update on cases, show a total of 516 students and nine members of staff tested positive between October 15 and 22. This is a drop in cases after 958 students and six members of staff tested positive for the virus in the previous week. It brings the total number of cases to 1,745 since the start of term, with 20 cases among staff and 1,725 among students.” Northern Echo.

29 October 2020: Manchester Metropolitan: “A university in Manchester has been threatened with union action after it announced plans to reintroduce face-to-face lessons next week.Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) has said it will provide up to three hours of in-person activity each week for most courses on Monday after the majority of lessons were moved online.The University and College Union (UCU) has said asking staff to revert back to in-person teaching when the city had moved to tough Tier 3 restrictions to try and control the virus was “unacceptable”.” Express & Star.

28 October 2020: University of Sunderland: “Sunderland University confirms 13 new Covid cases taking total up to 150. The latest figures reveal 13 more students have tested positive for Covid in the past week.” Chronicle Live.

University Trackers

26 October 2020: Bath Spa release figures showing , showing a total of 35 confirmed cases, from 5 October to 25 October. According to UCU there have been a total of 37 cases.

28 October 2020: Exeter: A further 19 cases from 25 October to 27 October brings the running total to 869.

28 October 2020: University of Hertfordshire: “Cumulative total of cases at the University since 28 September 2020: 78.”

29 October 2020: Keele report: “Since 18th September 2020 there have been 136 confirmed student cases off campus, 77 confirmed student cases on campus (213 student cases in total, 138 of which are now closed), and 14 confirmed staff cases (8 cases closed).”

26 October 2020: Oxford release new figures: 208 positive tests between 17 October and 23 October, through their own testing service. In total, since 20 August, 496 positive tests.

29 October 2020: University of Surrey: No. of weekly cases: 35. Total cases, since 17 September, 92.

Current totals:

119 Universities have reported coronavirus cases.
96 in England.
1 in Northern Ireland.
14 in Scotland.
8 in Wales.

As at 8am 29 October 2020, our data puts the number of confirmed cases for students at 31,860, for staff 841, in total 32,701.

As at 8am 29 October 2020, the UCU dashboard reported 32,681 confirmed covid cases at U.K. universities.

News Reports, 28 October 2020.

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Universities newly added.

26 October 2020: Courtauld Institute: “From 1 September – 23 October 2020, we have received five confirmed reports of Covid-19 affecting members of The Courtauld community. This includes direct staff, students and visitors. Of these, one had attended The Courtauld’s sites within the relevant period and as a result, their close contacts within The Courtauld community were notified and advised to self-isolate for 14 days in accordance with our notification procedures. During the same period, there have been two confirmed cases amongst the contractors at the Courtauld Connects site team. In each case, all appropriate contacts at The Courtauld were identified and have self-isolated.”

News Reports.

27 October 2020: University of Bristol: “The figure, published today in the University’s daily update, stands at 1529 confirmed cases among students, while 38 staff have also tested positive …. A readjustment to the case number has therefore been made retrospectively, leading to the sharp rise in over 200 cases from yesterday.” Epigram.

28 October 2020: Heriot-Watt: As of 28 October 2020, there are 7 students and no staff testing positive. Source: Internal communication.

28 October 2020: University of Hull: “or the weekly reporting period covering Monday 19 October to Sunday 25 October, we had 21 COVID-19 cases. 16 of these cases were amongst our student community with 2 cases relating to students living on campus and 14 involving students living off campus – either within the city or further afield. During the reporting period, there were 5 confirmed cases amongst our staff.” Source: Internal communication. This brings the running total to 58 students and 5 staff.

28 October 2020: Oxford Brookes: “In the seven days up to 23 October, we have been notified of 58 confirmed cases at Oxford Brookes. 54 of these cases were students and four were members of staff.” Source: Internal communication. By our reckoning, this give a total of 402 students and 8 staff testing positive since September 7.

University Trackers

28 October 2020: University of Birmingham: 21 October to 27 October: 126 new student cases, 15 new staff cases.

27 October 2020: Brighton University report 184 students, 4 staff and 2 people from organisations based there, since 28 September 2020.

27 October 2020: University of Edinburgh state they have “a total of 74 active cases reported to us by our students and staff.” UCU give the total number of cases as 408.

28 October 2020: Exeter University start publishing numbers for new positive cases. 65 students and 1 staff tested positive from 19 October to 24 October. According to UCU there have been 850 cases up to 24 October.

26 October 2020: University of Hertfordshire start publishing statistics. Since 28 September 2020, there have been 69 cases in total.

27 October 2020: Royal Holloway: “As of the last reporting point, midnight Monday 26 October there are 29 students and no staff members who are currently self-isolating after testing positive for (Covid-19).”

26 October 2020: University of Sussex cumulative totals: 449 students, 4 staff.

27 October 2020: University of the West of England: 243 positive cases in the last seven days. There have been 333 cases since the 15 October.

Current totals:

119 Universities have reported coronavirus cases.
96 in England.
1 in Northern Ireland.
14 in Scotland.
8 in Wales.

As at 8am 28 October 2020, our data puts the number of confirmed cases for students at 31,042, for staff 767, in total 31,809.

As at 8am 28 October 2020, the UCU dashboard reported 31,498 confirmed covid cases at U.K. universities.

News Reports, 27 October 2020.

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News Reports.

26 October 2020: Heriot-Watt: As of 26 October 2020, there are 9 students and under 5 staff testing positive. Source: Internal communication.

27 October 2020: University of Lincoln: “Some 176 students and staff at the University of Lincoln have tested positive for coronavirus. The data released on Tuesday, October 27 is more than double last week’s figure of 85, although the newest number is less than 1% of the University’s population.” The Lincolnite.

22 October 2020: Newcastle University: From 15 October to 21 October, 237 students and 5 staff tested positive. From 8 October to 14 October, 749 students and 11 staff tested positive. We estimate (due to problems with the data) that the total number of cases are 2091 students, 42 staff testing positive. UCU’s combined figures for students and staff are 2012. Source: Internal communication.

26 October 2020: University of Portsmouth: “There are 126 students and staff who are COVID positive and are currently self-isolating at the University. Of these 126 active cases, 123 cases are students, and 3 are staff.” Source: Internal communication.

University Trackers

27 October 2020: Bishop Grosseteste have 12 students isolating due to testing positive, and 5 students and 2 staff isolating having shown symptoms and awaiting tests or results.

26 October 2020: Essex University have 9 current cases: 6 students and 3 staff.

26 October 2020: King’s College London: Total cases since September 28: 162 students, 17 staff.

27 October 2020: Kingston University launch a dashboard, without older data, and with the average per 100,000 cases (more than five times its own population). 12 cases in the week up to 23 October. Our running total: 34 cases.

Current totals:

118 Universities have reported coronavirus cases.
95 in England.
1 in Northern Ireland.
14 in Scotland.
8 in Wales.

As at 7am 27 October 2020, our data puts the number of confirmed cases for students at 29,459, for staff 712, in total 30,171.

As at 7am 27 October 2020, the UCU dashboard reported 30,154 confirmed covid cases at U.K. universities.

News Reports, 26 October 2020.

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Universities newly reporting.

23 October 2020: Arts University Bournemouth start releasing numbers of cases. 7-day Cumulative Total (Confirmed Positive COVID-19 cases) to 23 October 2020 is 15 students.

News Reports.

22 October 2020: Aberystwyth University: From the start of term to October 21 a total of 36 cases of Covid-19 in students have been recorded by the university, a spokesman said. In the seven days to October 21 two cases of Covid-19 in students were recorded by the University. Affected student households have been asked to self-isolate. Wales Online.

22 October 2020: Cardiff Metropolitan: “The university said it has had 106 reported coronavirus cases since September 30, among students and staff, but mainly students. As of October 21 there were 357 students in self isolation in university accommodation and 17 members of staff self isolating.” Wales Online.

22 October 2020: Cardiff University: More than 700 Cardiff University students and three staff have reported testing positive for coronavirus with the NHS since the start of October and more than 2,000 are currently self isolating. Separately, the university’s in-house asymptomatic test service has identified a further 292 cases among staff and students.” Wales Online.

23 October 2020: Durham University: “Despite a steady decrease in cases, Durham University has the fifth highest number of total Covid-19 cases of all UK universities, and the highest number of cases as a percentage of staff and students, according to data compiled by the University and College Union (UCU). Around 7.5% of students and staff have reported having Covid-19 to the University, higher than any other university, based on available information. A total of 1,745 cases of Covid-19 have been reported to the University by students and staff as of 22nd October. 377 cases were reported over the last week, including nine staff.” Palatinate.

23 October 2020: University of Hertfordshire: 22 October 4 new student cases, 23 October 3 new student cases, for a total of 52 students and 1 staff member testing positive since 28 September. Source: Internal communication.

28 September 2020: University of the Highlands and Islands: “We have been informed today (28th September 2020) that a student who attended a face to face class at Inverness College UHI, 1 Inverness Campus, last week has tested positive for COVID-19.” University statement. This brings the number of cases at UHI to 5 as at the end of September.

21 October 2020: University of Hull: “For the weekly reporting period covering Monday 12 October to Sunday 18 October, we had 22 COVID-19 cases amongst our student community.” This brings the running total to 42. Source: Internal communication.

23 October 2020: Loughborough University: “The university has had 391 positive cases reported within the last 10 days. “Of these, 248 students remain in isolation because their symptoms started less than 10 days ago. “Two hundred and two cases were reported earlier than in the last 10 days.” Leicestershire Live.

21 October 2020: Oxford Brookes: ” In the week leading up to October 16 (last Friday), there were 68 positive results. One of them was a member of staff and the other 67 were students.” The Herald. By our reckoning, this give a total of 348 students and 4 staff tested positive since September 7.

22 October 2020: University of Portsmouth: “More than 150 students are self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 amid a three-day outage in the university’s testing regime due to a backlog.” Portsmouth News.

22 October 2020: Robert Gordon University: “While we have done everything we can to prepare for the safe return of our students, the Health Protection Team at NHS Grampian has recorded 63 positive cases of COVID-19 among our students since 15 September.” Source: Internal communication.

23 October 2020: University of Roehampton: “Todays (23/10/20) weekly confirmed Covid numbers: 11 people (9 students; 2 staff). Total reported cases on campus to date: 2.” Roehampton UCU on Twitter.

22 October 2020: University of South Wales: “The university said since the start of term 92 students and 11 members of staff have reported testing positive for Covid-19, including those who have not been on campuses this term.” Wales Online.

23 October 2020: University of Stirling: “A small number of students living in Andrew Stewart Hall, on the University Campus, have recently tested positive for Covid-19.” Source: Internal communication.

22 October 2020: Swansea University: “From the start of term to October 21 a total of 36 cases of Covid-19 in students have been recorded by the university, a spokesman said. In the seven days to October 21 two cases of Covid-19 in students were recorded by the University. Affected student households have been asked to self-isolate.” Wales Online.

22 October 2020: Trinity St Davids: “Since the start of term 33 students and 6 staff have reported testing positive for coronavirus and 243 students and 37 staff have been asked to self isolate. In the week to October 21 a total 15 students and one member of staff reported testing positive and 79 students and 11 staff are currently self-isolating.” Wales Online.

22 October 2020: University of Winchester: “The number of Covid cases recorded by Winchester University has now gone into double figures, with 15 people testing positive since the start of term.” Hampshire Chronicle.

26 October 2020: University of Winchester: “As of 11am on Monday 26 October, there are 19 current Covid-19 cases linked to the University. In the past 24 hours, there have been 6 additional confirmed cases of Covid-19. 7 previous cases have now completed their self-isolation and have recovered.” Source: Internal communication.

University Trackers

26 October 2020: Aston University release numbers for 19 October to 25 October: 3 staff and 29 students. Since 5 October, the totals are 8 staff and 137 students testing positive.

23 October 2020: University of Bath latest figures total 329 students and 5 staff.

19 October 2020: Cambridge release further figures: in the week 12 to 18 October, there were 154 positive tests through the University’s own testing program, for a running total from 5 to 18 October of 188 cases, including at least one staff member.

23 October 2020: Cardiff University: Between 5 October and 22 October, 829 students and 3 staff test positive.

26 October 2020: Cranfield University announce their first case, a student.

26 October 2020: Harper Adams: Total number of cases: 122 students, 4 staff. Shropshire Star.

23 October 2020: University of Sussex clarify their hitherto incomprehensible figures. From 21 September to 22 October, there have been 4 staff and 354 students testing positive for covid.

24 October 2020: University of Wolverhampton release figures. In September there were 2 staff and 6 students testing positive; from 1 October to 22 October 8 staff and 34 students, for a total of 10 staff and 40 students testing positive.

Current totals:

118 Universities have reported coronavirus cases.
95 in England.
1 in Northern Ireland.
14 in Scotland.
8 in Wales.

As at 11pm 24 October 2020, our data puts the number of confirmed cases for students at 27,615, for staff 638, in total 28,253.

As at 2pm 26 October 2020, the UCU dashboard reported 29,342 confirmed covid cases at U.K. universities.

News Reports, 13 October 2020.

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Universities newly added.

12 October 2020: University of Chichester reported 2 cases on 8 October 2020, according to the statistics gathered by UCU.

13 October 2020: Leeds Trinity: UCU report 21 cases at Leeds Trinity University.

13 October 2020: Trinity Laban: UCU report 3 cases at Trinity Laban Conservatoire

News Reports.

13 October 2020: University of East Anglia: Currently 64 students and 1 staff member testing positive. Source: Internal communication

13 October 2020: University of Hertfordshire: 7 new student cases reported for 13 October. Total cases now 23. Source: Internal communication.

12 October 2020: University of Hertfordshire: 4 new student cases reported for 12 October. Total cases now 16. Source: Internal communication.

13 October 2020: Royal Holloway: 23 students confirmed. Source: internal communication.

University Released Numbers.

13 October 2020: Aberystwyth release figures: from 4 September 2020 to 12 October 2020 they have recorded 31 cases amongst students.

12 October 2020: Aston University start to release stats: In the week 5 October to 11 October, 2 staff and 48 students have tested positive.

13 October 2020: University of Bath reports 20 new cases, giving an overall total of 174.

12 October 2020: Bath Spa release figures, showing a total of 11 confirmed cases.

13 October 2020: Birmingham City University latest figures: 214 students and 3 staff.

12 October 2020: Cardiff University, between 5 and 12 October, have 156 students and 1 staff test positive.

8 October 2020: Durham stats for 1 to 7 October: 3 staff and 219 students tested positive. Overall 5 staff and 251 students. Chronicle.

13 October 2020: University of Kent publish (confusing) numbers: 14 students and 1 staff member tested positive for covid.

13 October 2020: LSE launch their tracker: currently 30 students and 1 staff member with covid.

13 October 2020: Loughborough University reports 191 live cases, and 24 recovered.

13 October 2020: Reading University rennovate their dashboard: they currently have 37 cases in total.

12 October 2020: University of Sheffield’s latest numbers: 960 students and 12 staff testing positive, 28 September to 12 October.

12 October 2020: Sheffield Hallam release their latest numbers. For the week 5 October to 11 October, there were 422 students and 13 staff testing positive, for a total of 749 students and 15 staff positive in the last two weeks.

12 October 2020: UCL reports 89 students and 9 staff testing positive.

12 October 2020: University of York: “As of 4.40pm, Monday 12 October, we are aware of 220 individuals within our University community who are currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test. Since our previous update at 1.20pm on Friday 9 October we have been notified of 100 new cases, which are included in the total figure above.”

Current tally:

112 Universities have reported coronavirus cases.
90 in England.
1 in Northern Ireland.
14 in Scotland.
7 in Wales.

As at 11pm 12 October 2020, our data puts the number of confirmed cases for students at 12833, for staff 175, in total 13008.

As at 5pm 13 October 2020, the UCU dashboard reported 14,973 confirmed covid cases at 111 U.K. universities.

News Reports, 22 October 2020.

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Universities newly added.

16 October 2020: Trinity St David: “Trinity St David reported cases in 10 students and four staff.” BBC.

News Reports.

21 October 2020: Hertfordshire: 7 new student cases, bringing the total since 28 September to 46 (45 students, 1 staff). Source: Internal communication.

22 October 2020: Kingston University: “Staff at Kingston University (KU) have criticised the university’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying that current instructions for some staff members put teachers and students at risk.” University states “Up-to-date statistical information about any live Covid-19 cases for staff and students will soon be made available on the University’s website as part of our commitment to keeping our community informed around our response to the pandemic.” Surrey Comet.

22 October 2020: Robert Gordon University: “An ongoing multi-agency investigation has confirmed that there has been a total of 63 cases of Covid-19 identified within Robert Gordon University’s student population. “This figure includes those living in various locations – including university halls of residents, private flats and private halls elsewhere.” BBC.

University Trackers

22 October 2020: Bristol University have a cumulative total of 1089 students and 22 staff testing positive. Archived. Bristol Post report.

21 October 2020: St Marys University, Twickenham, start releasing figures. For the week ending 13 October, 6 students and 1 staff member tested positive; for the week ending 20 October, 5 students. In total, 11 students and 1 staff member, 7 October to 20 October, plus the undisclosed students and staff prior to that.

22 October 2020: University of the West of England: 117 positive cases in the last seven days. 41 on the 20 October, 27 on the 21 October.

Current totals:

116 Universities have reported coronavirus cases.
93 in England.
1 in Northern Ireland.
14 in Scotland.
8 in Wales.

As at 6pm 22 October 2020, our data puts the number of confirmed cases for students at 25,530, for staff 523, in total 26,053.

As at 6pm 22 October 2020, the UCU dashboard reported 26,036 confirmed covid cases at U.K. universities.

News Reports, 21 October 2020.

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News Reports.

20 October 2020: University of East Anglia: UEA publish more numbers, but not a cumulatve total number of cases. There have been 35 new cases, 16 October to 19 October; we make the total to be 113 student cases, and 1 staff case. Source: Internal communication.

20 October 2020: Hartpury University: “Coronavirus cases at Hartpury University and College have halved in just a week. Hartpury has confirmed that they now have 23 live cases of Covid-19 in students studying at the university and the college. This is down from the 50 cases that were confirmed on Wednesday, October 14.” Gloucestershire Live.

20 October 2020: Royal Agricultural: “There are now 19 live cases at the university, down from 23 on October 15.” Gloucestershire Live.

University Trackers

19 October 2020: University of Sussex release new figures. Although unclear, we think they total 3 staff cases and 507 student cases. (Note: if the total given for 12 October is a cumulative total, in accord with their statement at the time, then the total is 2 staff cases, and 428 student cases.)

20 October 2020: King’s College London: 4 staff and 48 student positive tests reported in last seven days, for a total since 28 September of 13 staff and 83 student cases.

19 October 2020: University of the West of England: 62 positive cases in the last seven days.

Current totals:

115 Universities have reported coronavirus cases.
93 in England.
1 in Northern Ireland.
14 in Scotland.
7 in Wales.

As at 7pm 20 October 2020, our data puts the number of confirmed cases for students at 22,158, for staff 378, in total 22,536.

As at 7pm 20 October 2020, the UCU dashboard reported 23,415 confirmed covid cases at U.K. universities.

News Reports, 20 October 2020.

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Note: for this week and next, news reports will be published every evening.

News Reports.

14 October 2020: Coventry University: Official figures show 57 students and 7 staff testing positive between 7 October and 13 October. The cumulative totals are 11 students and 15 staff. Source: Internal communication.

20 October 2020: Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh: Less than 5 students on campus have tested positive, and less than 5 staff on campus as well. Source: Internal communication.

20 October 2020: University of Hertfordshire report 5 more cases, 4 students and 1 staff, for a total of 39 cases (38 student, 1 staff) since 28 September. Source: Internal communication.

20 October 2020: University of Portsmouth: “As of Monday 19 October, there are 115 students and staff who are Covid positive and are currently self-isolating at the University (113 cases are students, and 2 are staff.)” Source: Internal communication.

19 October 2020: University of Lincoln: “Some 85 University of Lincoln students have now tested positive for coronavirus. Last week, the university said 36 students and one member of staff tested positive for the virus. However, the number of positive cases among students has risen 130% to 85.” The Lincolnite.

University Trackers

20 October 2020: Aston University release numbers for 12 October to 18 October: 3 staff and 60 students have tested positive

20 October 2020: Bournemouth University begin to release numbers. They state that there have been 72 new cases in the last seven days, and 256 cases in total since 1 August 2020.

19 October 2020: Oxford University announce 197 positive tests for the week 10 October to 16 October, bringing the total number since 20 August to 288.

20 October 2020: Salford start releasing statistics.Total number of student cases: 367. Number of staff cases, over the last 14 days up to 19/10/20: 18.

19 October 2020: Sheffield Hallam report 22 staff and 625 students testing positive over the two week 5 October to 18 October; 209 students and 9 staff in the last week; for a total of 958 students and 24 staff in the last three weeks.

Current totals:

115 Universities have reported coronavirus cases.
93 in England.
1 in Northern Ireland.
14 in Scotland.
7 in Wales.

As at 7pm 20 October 2020, our data puts the number of confirmed cases for students at 22,158, for staff 378, in total 22,536.

As at 7pm 20 October 2020, the UCU dashboard reported 23,415 confirmed covid cases at U.K. universities.