Summary Guidance for Staff, Students, Residents and visitors

This short guide provides information on the management of  COVID-19 involving Staff, Students, Residents and Visitors

Purpose

To outline the measures to be taken in the event a staff member, visitor, or student has suspected or confirmed COVID-19 or is identified as a close contact of someone who tests positive.

General Procedure

All students and staff are strongly encouraged to avail of vaccinations and to regularly read and adhere to the current government policy (here).

Testing

COVID-19 testing is no longer recommended or available for most people. Consequently, the University College is not providing Lateral Flow Tests at this time. Government guidance (here) now advises:

“If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19 and have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. Do this until you no longer have a high temperature (if you had one) or until you feel better.”

Symptoms

When a member of staff, visitor or student has symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19, they no longer need to notify College specifically regarding Covid but should now follow the normal procedure for reporting sickness absences from work or study.  Normal sickness leave arrangements apply.  You should follow government advice (here).  Medical evidence will be required for absence longer than five working days. You can find information on getting an isolation note on the NHS website.

Regulations for Students 5.11 states that students must inform the College of absence due to illness by emailing a completed absence form to student-absence@stran.ac.uk  within three working days of returning to studies.

Staff should inform their line manager as soon as possible.

Isolating

If you are a student absent due to isolation but well enough to continue with your studies, you do not need to report sickness absence. However, you can get an isolation note using the link above and you should advise the College that you are not able to attend in person. We will do what we can to support you with your studies during any period of self-isolation.

Members of staff who are isolating but well enough to attend work should discuss with their line manager if it is possible to work from home during this period.

Residential Students

If you are a residential student living in halls and are symptomatic or test positive you should contact Halls Office Reception, 028 9038 4251, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday or Security mobile 07850712556 outside of these hours. Please stay in your bedroom and do not leave your flat. Cleaning products, PPE and catering with be delivered to your flat for the duration of isolating period.