Lecturers’ union warned government over COVID

As over a million students headed to university last month, the UCU lecturers’ union warned that this mass migration risked causing a major health crisis, and said universities must not become the care homes of a COVID second wave.

Infection rates among young people rose sharply last month, and the union was critical of delayed government guidance for universities in England which suggests teaching outside or opening doors and windows.

It said these are not practical solutions for the winter months. The guidance also confirmed a controversial plan revealed by prime minister Boris Johnson to ban students going back home to their families in the event of a COVID outbreak.

Pointing to concerns raised by the government’s SAGE scientific advisers about the likelihood of increased cases on campus, the union said “shifting the majority of learning online would avoid universities trying to follow confusing, expensive and at times silly suggestions in the guidance”.

It would also avoid students having to travel across the country and risk being locked down in unfamiliar surroundings.

“The sensible thing to do is move most teaching online for this term and look to reopen campuses more widely only when that can be done safely,” said UCU general secretary Jo Grady.

The union also issued new guidance for where face-to-face teaching could not be avoided. This calls for face coverings to be worn, social distancing, greater testing on campus and better cleaning procedures.

https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/10977/Latest-government-university-guidance-and-young-people-infection-rates-prove-case-for-online-learning-says-UCU