Coronavirus outbreak

[Rusty Nails]

Does anyone know if other countries have had similar problems with their universities?

 

[mjr]

Does anyone know if other countries have had similar problems with their universities?

Oh yes. Some countries like Germany start (and finish) later in the year than the UK and some like Italy seem to have gone online more, but some start uni earlier so the UK has basically followed other countries off this particular cliff. Here's a report mainly on French universities and the #balanceTaFac (unmask your uni) hashtag from Voice of America: https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/virus-clusters-french-universities-give-europe-lesson

 

[vickster]

I've had it, I'm immune.

Are you? For sure? For ever?

 

[PK99]

Are you? For sure? For ever?

I was joining in the "I guess, with a modicum of effort, a case of some sorts could be made for every sector of society to flout the rules." idea

 

[matticus]

Oh yes. Some countries like Germany start (and finish) later in the year than the UK and some like Italy seem to have gone online more, but some start uni earlier so the UK has basically followed other countries off this particular cliff. Here's a report mainly on French universities and the #balanceTaFac (unmask your uni) hashtag from Voice of America: https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/virus-clusters-french-universities-give-europe-lesson

That's an interesting read. It's often weird reading a foreign view on your own country:

Spoiler: for brevity:

In the UK, most universities do not begin their fall terms until late September or early October, and are readying big changes.

At the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where the fall semester began Monday, many classes are being taught online — other than laboratory sessions or other practical instruction where hands-on learning is essential. Student societies are barred from meeting in person, and many students arriving from overseas will have to quarantine for two weeks in line with government protocols.

At University College London, only a quarter of the buildings will be occupied at one time. Teaching spaces will incorporate social distancing and everyone must wear face-masks. The university created an app for students to alert authorities if they have symptoms and plans to test up to 1,000 students and staff a day to keep the campus safe.

"I've got a public health expert team that are advising me when it's appropriate to extend testing beyond those that are immediately symptomatic,'' Michael Arthur, the president and provost at UCL. "So I think we're reasonably confident if we do have an outbreak — and I'm sure we will have, we're just playing with statistics — that we can move in and contain it very rapidly."

Student housing has been adapted to allow those who test positive to self-isolate.
>>>>>>>>>>>
My bold: As an aside - what the hell is the point of that?? This is something we've seen since March; authoritires RESTRICTING space for people. I just don't get it

 

[raleighnut]

That's an interesting read. It's often weird reading a foreign view on your own country:

Spoiler: for brevity:

In the UK, most universities do not begin their fall terms until late September or early October, and are readying big changes.

At the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where the fall semester began Monday, many classes are being taught online — other than laboratory sessions or other practical instruction where hands-on learning is essential. Student societies are barred from meeting in person, and many students arriving from overseas will have to quarantine for two weeks in line with government protocols.

At University College London, only a quarter of the buildings will be occupied at one time. Teaching spaces will incorporate social distancing and everyone must wear face-masks. The university created an app for students to alert authorities if they have symptoms and plans to test up to 1,000 students and staff a day to keep the campus safe.

"I've got a public health expert team that are advising me when it's appropriate to extend testing beyond those that are immediately symptomatic,'' Michael Arthur, the president and provost at UCL. "So I think we're reasonably confident if we do have an outbreak — and I'm sure we will have, we're just playing with statistics — that we can move in and contain it very rapidly."

Student housing has been adapted to allow those who test positive to self-isolate.
>>>>>>>>>>>
My bold: As an aside - what the hell is the point of that?? This is something we've seen since March; authoritires RESTRICTING space for people. I just don't get it

Yep they should be creating more space to allow distancing.

 

[mjr]

My bold: As an aside - what the hell is the point of that?? This is something we've seen since March; authoritires RESTRICTING space for people. I just don't get it

From my memory of visits to various bits of UCL around Bloomsbury over the years, there is often congestion around their entrance/exits, so I suspect limiting total building use is an attempt to avoid shockingly long queues if everyone is trying to keep 2m apart, or crowding if people tire of waiting (or think covid is a hoax ). The UCL main building may have large airy cloisters, but even the doors into and out of them are still fairly small and I don't think there's much scope for knocking new entrance doors into many of the buildings!

 

[tom73]

4 month stock pile of PPE that's not going to touch the sides. Given that all NHS and primary care services are wearing PPE as routine for all patient contact. Never mind an increase in Covid cases adding to the mix it look's like yet again. The government have learned nothing and the 600+ health and social care staff deaths mean little.

 

[cambsno]

Have to say that I do agree with the BoE economist that undue pessimism will hold the economic recovery back.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54355395

I think our stupid brexit policy/plan will hold our economy back even more.

 

[raleighnut]

I think our stupid brexit policy/plan will hold our economy back even more.

Yep but hey.................................Blue Passports.

 

[mjr]

Another poultry factory outbreak https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health...bernard-matthews-employees-covid-19-1-6859074

It'll be interesting whether the more cooperative approach of the more paternalistic company limits the outbreak size more than the last one did.

So much for that theory! It seems this outbreak may be smaller because it's a transport outbreak linked to car sharing following a bus fare hike by the company, possibly combined with low pay and boss pressure to keep working instead of isolating. I'd not noticed that the company was taken over by a "poultry giant" a few years ago. Source: local BBC radio and https://unitelive.org/penny-pinching/

 

[mjr]

Paris probably following Marseille onto "alerte maximale" along with Toulouse, Grenoble, Lyon and Lille. Bars, restos, sports and culture all closed. Health minister to announce this evening. New cases 253/100k/day. Similar to Newcastle and Manchester.

Madrid reentering lockdown. Not quite as tight as before but now essential travel in and out only.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Yep but hey.................................Blue Passports.

Is that Covid Blue?

 

[mjr]

The new Belgian govt has an interesting solution to needing to present itself to the whole 150 MPs while obeying social distancing and only occupying every other seat: use the European Parliament chamber which has 900 seats in the horseshoe plus a load of gallery seats. Benefits of EU membership

 

[Rusty Nails]

Have to say that I do agree with the BoE economist that undue pessimism will hold the economic recovery back.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54355395