Reading University 'very prepared' to manage Covid outbreaks this year
Nearly all returning students have had at least one jab
Last updated 23rd Sep 2021
The University of Reading is ‘very prepared’ to tackle Covid cases among students and staff this year, according to one of its top bosses.
Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Parveen Yaqoob told Greatest Hits Radio that the University had developed a “robust outbreak control plan” to protect students, staff, and local residents as the academic year begins.
“We’ve had enough of a drill last year to know how to manage small outbreaks – we had several small outbreaks last year and worked really well with the local authority and the local health protection team.”
The University is said to be particularly encouraged by the results of an internal vaccination survey they’ve conducted, which showed 93% of all returning students have had at least one jab.
First-year students now arriving are showing a ‘very high’ vaccination rate, Professor Yaqoob confirmed.
A vaccine van is being offered on campus to help any students get the first or second doses they need, in a bid to ensure as many students as possible are double-vaccinated.
The new academic year begins
Professor Yaqoob was speaking as the University’s new academic year gets underway for its 19,000 students – the second academic year to kick off since the start of the pandemic. First-year students are now taking part in ‘Freshers’ Week’ activities to welcome them to the University.
But the University and Students’ Union won’t be requiring Covid passes (proof of vaccination or testing) to allow access to freshers’ events, unlike other top unis including Bath, Manchester, and Liverpool.
“There are marquees going up on campus to prepare for freshers’ week, there are lots of events planned during freshers’ week and throughout society.
“And also the fact there’s been a really high uptake of the vaccine among our students gives us a lot of confidence that we’re going to be able to go forward much like a normal year.”
Many of the strict Covid restrictions that caused disruption to students last year have also been relaxed, with one-metre social distancing rules now scrapped.
Classroom capacity is now determined by ventilation requirements, Professor Yaqoob confirmed, instead of social distancing limits.
“We’re not back to completely full capacity, but we can partially go back to the way that we taught before.”
This also means the University has had to offer ‘blended’ learning, where teaching is conducted both in person and online, partly to accommodate international students who still aren’t able to travel to the UK.
The local community
Last academic year, Reading faced a far smaller Covid outbreak than many other UK universities. In total, 691 confirmed Covid cases hit the University – 574 among students, and 117 among staff.
But with the vaccine rollout well underway, Professor Yaqoob insists the local residents in Reading don’t need to be concerned at thousands of students arriving from across the country.
“Our vaccination survey suggests there’s been a very high uptake of the vaccine by our students – much higher than in their age group, and quite significantly higher than in the local community.
“So, if anything, I think we have quite a protective bubble in terms of our student community.”