There is no longer a legal requirement for people with COVID-19 to self-isolate, however it is important that we continue to take steps to prevent the spread of infection. Not only is this important for controlling COVID 19, but it will also help us to reduce other types of infection, leading to a healthier place for everyone to study and work. With this in mind, we ask everyone to follow good public health practices:

• If someone is unwell they should work/study from home where possible, or if unwell, rest and be absent
• Reusable face coverings are recommended in shared indoor spaces
• Remember to regularly wash your hands and use the available hand gel
• Ventilate the spaces you're in by opening windows wherever possible
• You can check the NHS website for your nearest vaccination clinic and we will post details of on-campus clinics in the new term. There are also a number of community clinics in Penryn. It’s important to complete your course of COVID-19 vaccinations to protect yourself and others. 

If you are on a placement where you are required to test, you should be able to access testing via your NHS site, but if you are not currently on placement but still need assess to clinical settings, CSRC (Clinical Skills Resource centre) or clinicians, then we can support you with tests by request. 

If you feel you are eligible for a free LFD or PCR test, more information can be found on the Government website. If you would like any further guidance, whatever campus you’re on, you are able to contact RRH via email on: rapidresponsehub@exeter.ac.uk

Following advice from Public Health, LFD testing may continue for smaller groups of people, who will still be able to access testing on our campuses for the immediate future. These groups are:

• Students on healthcare programmes (to comply with different settings) can access lateral flow test kits for use at home via the Government online ordering system in line with NHS staff provision. Should there be an issue receiving lateral flow tests via this route, the RRH will be able to provide an emergency source of test kits. 
  
• Students who have direct contact with practicing clinicians or who are accessing clinical settings who cannot access tests (to comply with different settings)
• Field trip testing for travel (to comply with different settings). There is further guidance being created for field trip leads to help work through the criteria and this will be disseminated via the Director of Education and Student Support. 
• Those who are involved with face-to-face human participant research both on and off campus if there are vulnerable participants and/ or researchers. Research leads should email rapidresponsehub@exeter.ac.uk with a request to access LFD home test kits for research participants and researchers who are deemed higher risk. The definition of vulnerable persons, can be found on the Government website. 
• Colleagues or students in volunteer roles. For colleagues and students who require home test kits to comply with setting policies (e.g. care homes) and who cannot access these from the setting.

If you fall under one of these groups, please email rapidresponsehub@exeter.ac.uk to arrange pick up of the tests. 

Colleagues:

If you are not able to work for any of the following reasons, please follow the usual process to record this in iTrent

• Sickness (any reason where you are unwell and unable to work as normal, including relating to coronavirus)
• Emergency leave (e.g. childcare)

More information on sickness absence and pay arrangements can be found online.

If you have a specific concern or query about being absent from work please email: humanresources@exeter.ac.uk

Students:

If you are unable to attend your lectures due to a COVID-19 related illness, you can report it via iExeter through the 'teaching and learning tools' tile. You should also speak to your tutor for advice on how to catch up on any missed classes.

If you hold a Tier 4/Student visa we will be able to monitor your engagement through your use of online learning materials, so there will not be any negative consequences for your immigration status if you are unable to attend in person teaching.

Wearing a face covering continues to be one of the most effective ways of preventing transmission of COVID-19 – this is even more important now the legal requirement to self-isolate has ended.

The University would like to remind everyone that all colleagues and students are welcome to wear a face coverings in shared indoor spaces that are crowded and enclosed and where you may meet people you do not usually meet. Please continue to bring your reusable face covering with you when coming to campus. 

Please be aware if you are working in a NHS setting, some areas are now asking you to wear face-coverings when on site. Please check local requirements before you arrive. 

Most infections with COVID-19 resolve within the first 4 weeks. “Long COVID” is an informal term that is commonly used to describe signs and symptoms that continue or develop after an acute infection of COVID. Depending on how long you have ongoing symptoms for, it can be called one of 2 things:

• Ongoing symptomatic COVID This is where your symptoms continue for more than 4 weeks. If your symptoms last for longer than 12 weeks, it will then be called;
• Post-COVID Syndrome This is where your ongoing symptoms continue for longer than 12 weeks and cannot be explained by any other condition.

If you are concerned about any of your symptoms contact your GP – they should offer you an initial consultation and provide access to any further assessments or care that they determine you need. For more information on “Long COVID” then please visit the NHS dedicated guidance.  

We are also offering a bitesize course for colleagues called: Managing Long COVID in the Workplace. This course will be aimed at anyone who has an interest in the condition, including employees and line-managers. If you would be interested in this course, please register your interest here.

We have a range of support available to colleagues and students who may be feeling anxious on our dedicated wellbeing pages. To find out more, please visit our websites:

Colleague Wellbeing

Student Wellbeing

Information for managers around working on campus, can be found on our dedicated Guidance for Managers webpages. These are constantly being reviewed and updated in light of the Government’s ‘Living with COVID’ plan and include a simple ten step guide. 

You can also refer to the full guidance for managers for more information on how to prepare and support your teams with returning to campus working, and for the additional support we have in place for managers whilst you work through this process.

Additional HR specific advice on COVID-19 can be found on the Coronavirus HR Support pages.

We have produced guidelines on holding meetings and booking spaces when on campus and a handy poster to remind you how best to prevent infection when on campus having face to face meetings. Meeting rooms guidance [PDF document]

Our visitors policy has been updated to reflect the changes to COVID-19 regulations that came into effect on 1 April 2022.

All colleagues who are planning on hosting any visitor to our campuses is responsible for ensuring the visitor understands and complies with our current University practices and procedures throughout their visit. Please read our visitors policy here‌

If you are traveling overseas, you may need proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test before travelling. These are often called ‘fit to fly’ tests and should be undertaken by a Government approved provider. The testing requirements are set by the country you want to travel to, and sometimes the airline you’re flying with, so please ensure you understand these requirements before attempting to travel.

You may be asked for an NHS COVID pass if you are travelling to a different country or at events that may ask for proof of your COVID-19 status. If you need a pass for travel, you’ll either need to be fully vaccinated with a vaccine recognised in the UK or have had a positive NHS PCR test within the past 6 months (the pass is available after you’ve finished self-isolating and up to 180 days after taking the test).

There are two ways to get a NHS COVID pass, you can either download the NHS app or use the online NHS COVID pass service, but you must be registered with your GP and have a valid NHS number in order to do this.  Full details on requirements for the NHS COVID pass can be found online.  

Vaccinations taken outside of the UK 

If you have had any of your vaccinations outside of the UK but are now living in England, you may be able to book an appointment to have your international vaccination records added to your NHS vaccination record, as long as you have an NHS number. Once your records are complete, you can get an NHS COVID pass to use for travel. You must inform the NHS about the number and type of vaccinations you have had in a different country so that they can ensure your records are correct. Please do not try to have additional doses of the vaccine in order to qualify for the NHS COVID pass as it’s important not to have too many doses of the vaccines.

For all UK & International travel, the requirements within the University Travel Policy must be followed before any arrangements are booked.

You can find the full process on what to do before you travel on our dedicated Staff travel pages. 

The guidance and measures detailed below will remain in place on our campuses until further notice and we expect all colleagues and students to continue to follow these. If you are based in NHS or other premises, please follow the local rules for the building.

• If someone is unwell they should work/study from home where possible, or if unwell, rest and be absent
• Reusable face coverings are recommended in shared indoor spaces
• Remember to regularly wash your hands and use the available hand gel
• ventilate the spaces you're in by opening windows wherever possible
• Vaccination clinics will continue on our Streatham Campus throughout the summer and across a number of community clinics in Penryn. It’s important to complete your course of COVID-19 vaccinations to protect yourself and others. 

We understand individuals may be affected by COVID-19 in different ways and there may be some people who are more vulnerable than others to this infection. Before coming to campus it may be useful to complete the COVID-19 Age Individual Vulnerability Risk Assessment and share your ‘COVID-19 age’ with your line manager.

If you have a High or Very High COVID-19 age or have answered 'yes' to any of the health questions please also complete the COVID-19 Personal Risk Assessment.

» COVID-19 age and Personal Risk Assessment information

SafeZone is an online app that helps us to help you whilst on campus, if you request it. The app is available for all colleagues and students to download and sign into if they wish.

In the event of an emergency, we’ll be able to keep you updated, via text messages, should you need to be aware of any vital location-based information. Once installed if you press Emergency, Help or First aid, your location will be sent to relevant staff on campus and allows us to keep you updated, via text messages, and relevant information relating to your emergency.

To download the app please go to: www.safezoneapp.com and follow the instructions for your device. You will need to register with your University of Exeter email address and review the permissions for the app to enable the app to be aware of your location, by using the transmitting signals on your phone. You should also allow push notifications, to enable the University to communicate with you if you raise an emergency alert.

Colleagues can now also download SafeZone to their University laptop or PC desktop.  To do this, please search 'Software Centre' in the start bar; then search 'SafeZone' on the applications page; then click on the install button.  If you are logging in using the desktop application, please note "(DESKTOP)" before your room number when checking in.

You can read more information about the SafeZone app online.