Oxford Brookes confirms 55 positive cases this week

52 were students and three were members of staff


Oxford Brookes emailed students today to give their weekly update on positive coronavirus cases at the university.

In the email, they said: “In the seven days up to 13 November, we have been notified of 55 confirmed cases at Oxford Brookes. 52 of these cases were students, three were members of staff.”

“Of the 55 cases, 49 are attributed to Oxford City and six to outside of Oxfordshire.

“Our data shows that the cases continue to be through transmission in social settings.

The email went on to detail the university’s “on-campus Covid-secure measures”. They detailed the new national restrictions: “Study areas are only for independent study”; “you can only study with a group of people in a scheduled teaching session”; “there are no social areas on campus during the national lockdown.”

They also detailed the existing measures: Social distancing; “face coverings must be worn indoors while on campus”; “eating or drinking is not permitted on campus except in designated areas“; “windows in teaching rooms should remain open in order to increase ventilation“; “if you are attending an online teaching session, you should return to your accommodation” ; “students can use the heated central courtyard marquee” at Headington.

The email further went on to remind students of what a ‘support bubble’ means: “Thames Valley Police has informed us that a minority of students are misusing the notion of the ‘support bubble’ to circumnavigate the current lockdown rules. A support bubble is a close support network between a household with only one adult, and one other household. You must not meet socially indoors or outdoors with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble.”

The university also said: “Where Brookes students are identified by the police as potentially acting against government guidance, the police will collect student names and contact the University to confirm details, including student addresses. ”

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