Tag Archives: Edinburgh

Confidential Reports, 23 September 2020.

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So far I have received reports, made confidentially, of covid-19 outbreaks at five universities:

Birmingham: at least one positive test.

Exeter: confirmed on Streatham Campus, awaiting results of tests on Penryn campus. This has now been reported via Devon Live and ITV.

Newcastle University: 22 students and 8 staff have tested positive. Confirmed through recording of University meeting.

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh: One student tested positive in the halls of residence. Now confirmed by Edinburgh live.

Queen Mary University, London. Multiple cases.

University of Kent, Canterbury. Two confirmed cases. Now confirmed by Kent Online.

Additionally, I have been informed that the outbreak at Manchester Metropolitan is worse than reported, or declared by the university, and that cleaning practices at Sunderland University are not as described by the Vice Chancellor.

Many thanks to those who have contacted us.

Updated 24 September 2020: We regret we cannot take any more private tips. We do not have the resources to follow them up, and we cannot afford to make mistakes on such a serious matter. See this post ‘Mea Culpa’ for a longer explanation.

if you know of an unreported outbreak, or are concerned about working conditions, in your university, contact your union!

News reports, 14 September to 19 September, 2020.

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Reports of Covid Outbreaks in British Universities, from Monday 14 September to Saturday 19 September:

15 September 2020: Oxford Brookes: University states “We are currently dealing with a small but growing number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 amongst our Oxford-based students. These appear to have spread via social gatherings in off-campus private residential settings during the week commencing September 7.” Oxford Mail.

17 September 2020: Edinburgh Napier University: “Eleven students have tested positive for Covid-19 following an outbreak at student accommodation”, Bainfield Flats. BBC Scotland.

18 Sept 2020: University of Bath: “a very small number confirmed cases of Covid-19”, who are now self-isolating, along with their households. Bath University. Somerset Live.

19 Sept 2020: Manchester Metropolitan University: “Several students” isolating, “a handful of confirmed cases” being managed at MMU’s Birley campus. Manchester Evening News.

19 Sept 2020: Warwick University: A student living in the Rootes accomodation block tested positive; 14 other people on the same floor now isolating. This follows a single case from the previous week. The Boar.