The institution has announced that more than 1,000 students have tested positive for the virus over the last 6 days.
Over 1000 Newcastle University students test positive: Nearby, Northumbria University announced on Friday that 770 of it’s students had also tested positive. The latest figures were collated after both universities announced that, for the next three weeks at least, they would be switching to online studying. Unless it was absolutely necessary to have ‘in-person’ lessons.
Between October 1st to 7th Newcastle University said that 1,003 of it’s 28,000 had now tested positive for COVID-19. In the same week 12 of it’s staff members also received positive tests. A spokesperson for the university said that the majority of cases have been from social and residential places.
Also they added that. “We expected to see cases rise in light of the increase in cases both locally and nationally. And all HE institutions have to manage this on an ongoing basis. We feel confident that we have appropriate measures in place to protect us all. Whilst we are on campus and to reduce the potential for transmission in our community”.
One lecturer, who asked for his identity not to be revealed, said that he felt incredibly sorry for the students. Who didn’t have a choice but to come to the university and sit in their residencies and stew. He went on to say he suspects that many of these students are getting nothing from their university experience. And would rather be at home. Subsequently, bringing thousands of people together from all over the place is bound to cause an explosion in cases.
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