Student Update: Walsall Covid-19 update

Please be aware that this information was shared with students by email and correct at the time of sending. For the latest Covid-19 guidance, please visit our coronavirus webpages: www.wlv.ac.uk/coronavirus. If you are a student who has a query or needs support, please log a helpcall with ASK@WLV in e:Vision (www.wlv.ac.uk/evision).

Following a communication sent to all students on Tuesday, 2 February, about the South African variant of Covid-19 found in Walsall, Walsall Council has released the below update regarding this:

• Enhanced testing in the first identified area of interest (WS2) has now been completed and Walsall Council would like to thank residents and businesses in the area for their cooperation. The drop-in symptom-free testing centre for the South African variant at Walsall College will continue to operate. The testing centre at Forest Arts Centre remains open 8.30 am – 1.30 pm until Friday 19 February.

• Walsall Council is aware of a further instance of the South African variant form of Covid-19 in the borough following routine sequencing of positive Covid-19 tests. The newer case is not linked to the previously identified case in the borough or to international travel and further targeted testing is underway to gather as much information as possible to aid better understanding of the new variant and help suppress and control the spread of Covid-19 in Walsall.

• This second wave of enhanced testing is concentrated in parts of the Pleck ward, view map here. You can check to see if you are in the targeted testing area for the Covid-19 South African variant using the updated Walsall postcode checker and also find more information on the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Guidance from Walsall Council for those who live, or are travelling into, the area:

• If you are in a targeted testing area, you do not need to take any action now ― all households in the targeted testing area will be directly contacted at their doorstep and will be provided with a home testing kit from a public health or licensed officer. 

• If you are an essential worker, or you need to go out for essential shopping or appointments, you can carry on as normal, whilst observing the national lockdown guidelines and Hands, Face, Space precautions at all times.

• If you are outside your home for essential reasons and you would prefer to visit a testing site, these are located at Walsall College (Wisemore Campus) and Walsall Forest Arts Centre.

• If you do not need to leave your home for essential reasons, you should continue to stay home in line with national lockdown guidance.

• If you are not in the targeted testing area, you must also please continue to follow national lockdown rules and Hands, Face, Space safety precautions at all times.

• If you have an appointment to receive your Covid-19 vaccination, you should attend this appointment as planned.

• The postcode checker is for Walsall residents only, and will not provide Covid-19 testing guidance or advice for residents of other council areas. If you live outside of the Walsall Council area, please see your local council website for advice.

Based on this information and meetings held with our local authority partners yesterday, this means that the current arrangements around attending campus remain in place. The latest information is available on our Covid-19 webpages.

Thank you, and stay safe.

Professor Julia Clarke

Deputy Vice-Chancellor