Student Update: Covid-19 update following Government announcement on 19 January 2022 

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).

Sent by email to all students on Thursday, 20 January. View the email here: Student Update: Covid-19 update following Government announcement on 19 January 2022. 

Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced that England would begin removing Plan B restrictions.   

This update provides information on what the Government announcements mean for you and life on campus. Teaching and learning activities will continue to be delivered as planned, and we are confident our campuses are as safe as possible. We continue to work within the guidelines set out by the Government and our local health protection teams.  

Face-coverings on campus  

The Government has announced that from today (Thursday, 20 January), face-coverings are no longer a legal requirement in classrooms for both staff and students. However, they should continue to be worn in communal areas.   

At present, the infection rates are still high in our region, and Covid-19 is an airborne virus. Therefore, for your own safety and that of your fellow students, we strongly encourage you to continue to wear a face-covering in classroom settings.   

We encourage all students, staff, and visitors to wear a face-covering when on campus. This includes communal areas and when moving around in teaching and office spaces.   

We understand that not everyone can wear a face-covering for medical reasons, but if you can, then you must do so to help protect others. Exemption cards are now also available for collection on campus.    

We will continue to review the guidance around face-coverings over the coming days and take advice from our local health protection teams. We will update you as soon as possible if and when there are any further changes to the guidance.   

Find out where you can collect a face-covering exemption card

Vaccine pop-up at City and Walsall Campus  

The Government has stated that vaccination remains our best defence against Covid-19 and urges everyone to get boosted.  

Next week, students have the chance to get their jab at a vaccine pop-up at City Campus and Walsall Campus. Open to all students, you do not need to book an appointment. Just come along at any time.    

City Campus    

• Location: The Ambika Paul Building entrance, in the former Santander bank.     
• Opening times: Tuesday 25 January to Friday 28 January 2022, 10 am to 4 pm.     

Walsall Campus   

• Location: Samuel Johnson Building foyer.     
• Opening times: Tuesday 25 January, 10 am to 4 pm 

The pop-ups will be offering first, second and booster doses of the vaccine for anyone eligible. More information about vaccine eligibility is available on the NHS website.     

EU and international students can get vaccinated in the UK – the vaccine is available free to everyone, regardless of nationality or immigration status.  

We have set up a dedicated coronavirus vaccine webpage to help you stay up to date with the latest information for booking your appointment and walk-in vaccination opportunities close to our campuses.     

Thank you to everyone who has already had the vaccination.   

Testing, self-isolating and reporting  

Please be aware that guidance for testing and self-isolating remains in place.   

Symptom-free testing 

Following the national government guidance, all students should take a test at home with a lateral flow device (LFD) test kit or at an in-person facility before returning to the University. 

Once you've returned to campus, you should continue to test regularly, every three to four days. Test results should be reported online to NHS Test and Trace whether positive, negative or void. 
 
From Tuesday, 11 January, people who receive a positive lateral flow test result will be required to self-isolate immediately and not take a confirmatory PCR test. This is a temporary measure while Covid-19 rates remain high across the UK. 
 
More information is available on our Covid-19 Symptom-free testing webpage. 

Please be aware that if you are experiencing coronavirus symptoms, you should book a PCR test (a test sent off to a lab).  

Self-isolating if you test positive 

Anyone who receives a positive test result should self-isolate for ten days. After six days, you may leave self-isolation if you receive two negative lateral flow test results, 24 hours apart on days five and six. The day of your positive test result is day zero. 

If you develop symptoms while you're self-isolating, the ten days restart from when your symptoms started. 

Visit the NHS How long to self-isolate webpage for more information.  

Covid-19 reporting procedure 

Students and staff who receive a positive result from a lateral flow or PCR test should email: Covid-19help@wlv.ac.uk as soon as possible to inform our Health and Safety team. Please include your name, student number and a contact telephone number. 

Once you have sent your email, you will receive an auto-response that contains a link to complete our online reporting form. The form should be completed straightaway. 

More information and guidance is available on our Covid-19 Reporting Procedure webpage. 

Support for students 

The University has recently launched ASK@WLV, a new service for all student queries and support.  

Find ASK@WLV on campus:    

• City Campus: Ambika Paul Building, next to the Harrison Library.     
• Walsall Campus: In the Performance Hub.     
• Telford Campus: In the Darby Building.     

Log your question online in e:Vision: www.wlv.ac.uk/evision.      

Call: 01902 518 518    

All students can access online mental health and wellbeing support 24/7 through Togetherall – an online community monitored by trained professionals. If you need advice or extra help, please check our self-help resources webpage or complete the mental health and wellbeing support registration form.      

Please remember that if you are struggling financially, hardship funding is available. 

Thank you, and stay safe. 

Professor Julia Clarke  

Deputy Vice-Chancellor