Keeping safe on campus

We’ve completed full risk assessments of our campuses and we’re implementing control measures to reduce the risk of transmission and protect our community. We continue to follow the latest Government and scientific advice. Wearing a face covering may reduce the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) droplets, helping to protect others. 

The University strongly recommends that all staff, students and visitors and continue to wear a face covering in indoor spaces and any space where social distancing cannot be maintained. Should you forget to bring in a face covering disposable face covering will be available around the University.

There are exemptions for wearing face coverings and we understand for some, wearing a face mask even for a short period of time can be difficult. 

If you feel you should be exempt from wearing a face covering students must contact askthehub@essex.ac.uk providing a brief outline of the reasons for your exemption. Staff should contact ohquery@essex.ac.uk. We will then contact you to discuss further and where appropriate issue you with a lanyard and card to ensure you are quickly recognised and not challenged inside University buildings.

Face masks/face coverings are strongly encouraged in all indoor University premises and in all areas where social distancing may be difficult to maintain.

Face coverings are strongly advised in the following University areas:

• all internal corridor, lobby/access areas
• all teaching spaces, labs, IT rooms, private study spaces and common rooms.  (The lecturer may wear a face visor in place of a face covering, but students must wear face coverings).
• all kitchens and WC facilities.
• lifts when these are available for general use and limited to one occupant.
• all internal catering facilities.
• Library general areas.
• shower/changing/locker rooms.
• where staff or students feel social distancing is likely to be reduced below the prescribed distance.
• any circumstance where staff or students through personal choice wish to wear a face covering.
• when directed to do so by specific departmental risk assessments which may include use of specific Personal Protective Equipment (facemasks/gloves/aprons) relating to particular activities.

Please remember face masks or coverings will only be effective if they are worn properly, covering the nose and mouth and fitted snugly, and kept clean. Make sure you change your face covering daily and wash your hands when putting it on or taking it off your face.

If you chose to wear a disposable paper mask with one blue side and one white side, the blue side should be on the outside. Once you have used the paper mask, please dispose of it in a bin.

We’ve thought carefully about the layout in your lecture rooms. Seating layouts are clearly displayed for you and we rearrange furniture if necessary. We ask that you leave circulation areas as quickly as possible and not to socialise and congregate in these areas when waiting to go into a lecture.

Follow signs and guidance in study spaces. You can really help by not sharing workstations and equipment when you are in study spaces.

In IT labs you can use the machines marked with a green dot. Please wipe the keyboard, mouse and table before you use them and afterwards.

Find out how to book a study space on campus.

If you are in enclosed spaces like shops, food outlets or banks, please follow the signs and maintain your distance. We strongly advise you wear a face covering upon entering food outlets, unless you are sharing a table with members of your household.

The number of people allowed into different outlets might be limited to ensure social distancing. It might also take longer to serve you and you might need to queue longer than normal.

All Essex Food outlets and the SU Bar are cashless and will only accept card payment.

SU Outlets The Store and the Kitchen can accept cash but contactless is the preferred payment method.

It is important you are familiar with what the current government guidance is advising in relation to easing of restrictions and following the national roadmap. This can be subject to change and the University will interpret and monitor the information and communicate any changes or local adaptions to staff and students.

Remember that social distancing applies in toilets too. We strongly encourage you wear a face covering upon entering and keep this on when passing through areas where social distancing may not be achievable.

Give people space. If no cubicles are vacant just pop back outside until someone leaves then go back in.

Together we need to be aware of what has changed and how we can all help protect those who may be at greater risk. Respect and courtesy for each other remains at the heart of our University community.

The full cooperation of all students with health and safety procedures is essential to maintain the highest standards and helping the University to create a safe environment for all of us.

Stay alert, be informed and up to date.

You are advised to carefully read the latest information and guidance on the student COVID-19 web pages or staff COVID-19 web pages, as well as paying attention to signage and information on campus. This is important to understand the guidance and advice on personal measures that each of us should be taking.

• Regular COVID-19 testing on campus or at home
• COVID-19 vaccination
• Early reporting to covid19@essex.ac.uk
• Self-isolation when necessary
• Following your sign up to the COVID-19 social agreement through the online registration process, complying with the risk assessments and measures put in place.
• Complete the COVID-19 essential 'Keeping safe on campus' training course, reading the related COVID-19 guidance within it.
• Adhere to the Code of Student Conduct, which include regulations A9 (behaviour that is likely to cause injury or impair safety) and A11 (Behaving in a manner, which obstructs, frustrates or disrupts).
• Allow yourself more time when moving around campus.
• Be patient when accessing facilities and services.
• Avoid sharing food and drinks.
• You can still use cash in our eateries and shops, but please use contactless card payments if possible. That way we can keep to a minimum the number of times anyone has to touch cash.
• Maintain good hand hygiene including regular hand washing and/or use of hand sanitiser.
• Cooperate with and follow any risk assessments in place for your health and safety.
• Follow guidance and signage in place around the campus.
• Wear face coverings.
• Report all accidents and incidentsReport all accidents and incidentsReport all accidents and incidents and seek help if you have any concerns.
• Concerns and feedback can be sent to covid19@essex.ac.uk.

Enhanced cleaning is undertaken in some communal areas including more regular cleaning and disinfection of high touch points.

Where a member of staff or student has been identified as being COVID-19 positive, and the work/study area cannot be left fallow for 72 hours and deep cleaning protocols will be implemented.

Of course our cleaning teams will also continue to provide essential cleaning in both academic areas and student accommodation.

Our Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service is always there for you to offer you guidance and support. If for any reason stricter social distancing measures are reintroduced we’ll adapt our services so we can continue to offer you the support you need.

Services on campus

• Accommodation procedures and support
• Study spaces on campus
• Post room opening timesPost room opening timesPost room opening times
• Wivenhoe Park Nursery and childcareWivenhoe Park Nursery and childcareWivenhoe Park Nursery and childcare

Reference guidance for our community

• COVID-19 Policy statement (.pdf)
• University of Essex premises policy (.pdf)
• Essential information (.pdf)
• Equality Impact Assessment for phased return to campus (.pdf)
• University of Essex Business Continuity Plan (.pdf)
• Strategic Risk Assessment (.pdf)
• Covid alert procedure (.pdf) - what to do if someone develops symptoms while on campus
• Fire evacuation and COVID-19 procedure (.docx)

The Delta variant of COVID-19, first identified in India now accounts for approximately 90% of COVID cases in the UK. There is evidence that this strain is much more infectious than the previous Alpha strain and risk of hospital admission is higher. Evidence shows this strain is spreading rapidly throughout education establishments (BMJ 2021).

New research from Public Health England suggests that the Delta variant is associated with an approximately 60% increased risk of household transmission compared to the Alpha variant.

The common symptoms of COVID-19 remain a continuous cough, fever and change in sense of taste and smell. It has been suggested by a Professor studying the symptoms of COVID that additional symptoms linked to this new variant could also include headaches and runny nose. For younger people this could appear “more like a bad cold". Despite not feeling very ill, individuals could still be contagious and put others at risk.

If you are living in accommodation with other students then the likelihood is that if one person gets a positive test, that others in the household will also contract the virus due to the increased risk of transmission.

If you are mixing with others in indoor spaces then the risk of contracting COVID 19 from a close contact with a positive case is higher. The risk is reduced by meeting people outside.

You can decrease the risk of transmission by:

• having COVID-19 tests either on campus or at home
• getting a COVID-19 vaccination
• reporting any positive tests immediately to covid19@essex.ac.uk
• continuing to socially distance within your accommodation
• minimising close contact with others. Remember if you test positive then the people you live with and any other close contact will also need to self-isolate for 10 days
• meeting outside where possible
• keeping areas where you live well ventilated by opening windows where this is possible
• working together as a household to ensure you keep as safe as possible
• being vigilant for signs and symptoms of COVID 19 and if you start to feel unwell book a PCR test
• being scrupulous with hand hygiene measures and cleaning of surfaces within the flat
• avoiding mixing with other flats, particularly if you have heard that there may be flats in your block self-isolating due to positive cases or close contacts of positive cases
• isolating for the required time if you are advised to do this by NHS or the University
• continuing to take precautions once vaccinated: Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air.

• The sooner you identify if you have COVID-19, the earlier you can self-isolate and avoid spreading infection to others and to your household.
• To minimise disruption to your day-to-day activities and teaching programme and ability to be involved with the face-to-face sessions.
• To avoid spreading the virus to more vulnerable individuals.

In order to travel safely to another location, we recommend that you have two Lateral Flow COVID tests 72 hours apart prior to you travelling.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 it is a legal requirement to self-isolate for 10 days, we will support you during your isolation period.

Positive tests in your household

If you live with someone who has tested positive, it is a legal requirement to self-isolate for 10 days if you are not fully vaccinated. We will support you during your isolation period.

The University asks that you refrain for coming onto campus for 10 days if you live with a COVID-19 positive case regardless of your vaccination status. If you live on campus remain in your accommodation and do not use campus facilities. Please email covid19@essex.ac.uk for further information and advice.

Positive close contacts

If you have not been identified as a close contact, you can leave your term time address. Please be alert to any new symptoms. Please email covid19@essex.ac.uk for further information and advice.

Advice and guidance from governmental, professional and advisory bodies will continually be reviewed, to ensure we take account of such advice and guidance when putting measures in place to minimise risks from COVID-19. Such bodies would include, but are not limited to, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Public Health England (PHE), NHS England, Higher Education Occupational Practitioners (HEOPS), Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine.

As part of the Online Student Registration process, you have been asked to agree to follow the University's health and safety regulations and guidance (including social distancing) that have been introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with all new and returning students, you have also been asked to complete the Keeping Safe on Campus.

Furthermore, you have been asked to agree to take responsibility to regularly check your Essex IT account for emails, to access further information on Moodle and our COVID-19 web pages, and to follow the University's health and safety procedures.

There is information on how to come onto our campuses, and you will receive frequent information and guidance on the Student COVID-19 webpages, as well as updates from the Communications Team to your Essex email account.

In addition, signage describing current prevention measures will be in place on buildings and services across the campuses. The information and guidance will include advice on personal measures that we all will need to adhere to, such as social distancing, self-isolating (when symptomatic or living with others symptomatic), hand washing and use of PPE when required. We are constantly monitoring the situation and COVID-19 Policy, along with our COVID-19 Business Continuity Plan, which will be reviewed as necessary.

As part of the Online Registration process, you have been asked to agree to adhere to the Code of Student Conduct, which include regulations A9 (behaviour that is likely to cause injury or impair safety) and A11 (behaving in a manner, which obstructs, frustrates or disrupts).

Please note that these regulations will be used for contravention of expectations of behaviour regarding health and safety procedures, social distancing and compliance with the regulations and guidance that have been introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The University’s Facilities Management Services (Soft FM) will continue to provide essential cleaning in both academic areas and student accommodation. Enhanced cleaning will be undertaken in some communal areas to include more regular cleaning and disinfection of high touch points.

Where a student has been identified as being COVID-19 positive, and the work / study area cannot be left unused for 72 hours, deep cleaning protocols will be implemented.

Clear guidance will be provided on the Student Directory as to the symptoms and situations which indicate that a student should self-isolate. All self-isolations should be reported to the University via email to the COVID-19 inbox, as well as the NHS (by contacting 111) to report your symptoms and arrange for a COVID-19 test.

The University’s guidance on contact tracing and self-isolation will help to ensure that, where this is known, persons who have been in contact with an infected person are contacted and given appropriate advice. Support will be given to any student having to self-isolate.