Face coverings recommended as reports from South Africa suggest university outbreaks accelerated Covid variant’s spread
The UK government has told students and staff at universities in England to wear face masks in all communal areas under Covid-19 rules designed to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.
At the time of writing there have been three confirmed cases of the Covid-19 variant in England and six in Scotland, and fears over Omicron are growing across the world even while scientists caution that key questions remain unanswered. The variant was first identified in South Africa, and there is concern that it could be more resistant to vaccines than others.
As part of a range of new restrictions, on 28 November, the Department for Education published guidance for schools, colleges and universities on rules that came into force on 29 November. On masks, it says the government is “strongly advising that face coverings should be worn in communal areas in all settings by staff, visitors and pupils or students” unless they are exempt.
Elsewhere, the guidance reiterates that all staff and students should test themselves twice weekly using lateral flow devices. As under previous rules, those who have close contact with someone who has Covid should take a PCR test but they do not need to isolate unless they are over 18 and unvaccinated.
However, those who have had close contact with someone suspected or confirmed as having the Omicron variant will be asked to isolate for 10 days.
‘Measures will be reviewed’
As for international exchange—be that student or academic—the list of countries added to the government’s “red list” over the weekend: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“Most of the guidance hasn’t changed and the new measures that are being introduced are temporary and precautionary and will be reviewed in three weeks,” the DfE says.
Speaking on LBC radio on 28 November, South Africa’s health minister Joe Phaahla said outbreaks in university settings—mainly in the country’s major cities—had fuelled the spread of Omicron. Early data suggested that most people who had been hospitalised were “young”, and 65 per cent of those admitted were not vaccinated.
At a press conference on Saturday, prime minister Boris Johnson announced that face coverings are to be made compulsory in shops and on public transport for all adults from 30 November, although pubs and restaurants are exempt.
From the same date, everyone entering the UK from outside the British Isles will have to take a PCR test by the end of the second day and self-isolate until they have received a negative result. All those who have had contact with an Omicron case must self-isolate, even if they are fully vaccinated.