Bristol Uni announces that all staff and students are now required to wear a mask on campus
By Roya Shahidi, Co-Deputy News Editor
There will be a return of student marshals in study areas and libraries to remind staff and students to wear a face covering.
In an email to students this morning Professor Hugh Brady announced that all staff and students are now required to wear a face covering inside buildings on campus.
This is unless they are exempt, eating or drinking or ‘can keep a reasonable distance from each other’.
The VC cited the high COVID-19 rates in Bristol and the potential challenges of the winter months, such as ventilation and social distancing, as reasons to bring back the use of face coverings. The email states that factors could threaten the ‘ability to offer in-person on-campus teaching.’
Bristol Uni's website states that as of 15 November 2021 there are 20 active cases of COVID-19 amongst students at the University, as well as a number of positive cases circulating amongst staff.
Mandatory facemasks @BristolUni just announced.
— Dr Alix Dietzel (@alixdietzel) November 15, 2021
I have to say I am relieved. Maybe 10% of my students wore masks in my lecture this morning.
I had covid, do not recommend.
Bristol University's response as 120 staff contract covid in a month https://t.co/6Z6nNMixlx ......The university says the figures are "very low" in the context of how many people it employs
— GaryFoster (@Prof_GD_Foster) November 9, 2021
In his email, Professor Brady also issued a reminder to students to continue to take the following precautionary measures:
- Staying at home if unwell
- Taking a lateral flow test twice a week
- Taking a PCR test if you have symptoms or a positive lateral flow
- Getting a vaccination or booster vaccine
He stated in his email: ‘Students have made it very clear how much they value their in-person on-campus teaching. By acting responsibly now, we will increase the likelihood that we can continue this key element of the Bristol experience during the difficult winter months ahead.
‘We continue to carry out risk assessments every two weeks in collaboration with regional Public Health advice and our own Scientific Advisory Group and we will update you when we can.’
Featured Image: Epigram / Megan Ip