COVID-19 cases rise at University of Bristol
View of the university’s Wills Memorial Building from Cabot Tower. Image Bristol City Council.
The University of Bristol has around 119 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among students as well as two staff members in the latest update.
The university, which has some 28,000 students and 7,000 staff, is working closely with Public Health England (PHE) and Bristol City Council to support those affected.
The two members of staff who tested positive for the virus have since worked from home and have not attended campus.
The latest figures are from 7 October, with cases being updated every Wednesday.
To support the return of students to the city, two Mobile Testing Sites will also be deployed, for a limited period of time, for students on campus.
There is also a Local Testing Sites located close to the university, at the Victoria Rooms.
Pro Vice Chancellor for Student Experience at the University of Bristol, Professor Sarah Purdy, said: “We continue to monitor the situation closely with PHE and the local public health team, and welfare support is being provided for students and staff.
“We are committed to ensuring students’ health and safety and protecting the local community and robust plans are in place should the situation escalate.”
Bristol’s Director of Public Health, Christina Gray, said: “As in other parts of the country, a number of our city’s student population have tested positive for COVID-19.
“Positive cases among the student population was inevitable as universities reopened and the university has had plans in place to respond to this quickly and effectively.
“The response highlights that students with symptoms are being proactive in getting tested. We’d like to thank students for being so responsible by doing so and self-isolating until their results come back negative.
“Students’ physical and mental wellbeing is paramount and we will continue to work closely with the university to ensure students who are self-isolating are fully supported.
“We’d like to give a big thank you to students who are playing their part in the collaborative effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. This is a huge global challenge and we will only beat this together…”
Students who develop coronavirus symptoms are being asked to book tests at: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
The PHE is also reminding them to “continue adhering to public health guidance” and to download the NHS Test and Trace app if they haven’t done so at: www.covid19.nhs.uk
Any individuals who have been in close contact with the students have been notified and advised to self-isolate for 14 days in line with government advice.
The number of confirmed cases at the university can be found on their website.
Bristol City Council also issues bi-weekly reports on the latest COVID-19 data for the whole city.
For the latest public health guidance, visit: www.bristol.gov.uk/coronavirus.
