Suffolk students begin trips home for Christmas
Students who test negative for Covid-19 are starting to make their way home for the holidays
Students across the country are permitted to travel home during a 'travel window' between 3rd and 9th December, providing they do not have coronavirus or are contacted by the NHS test and trace system.
To support their safe travel home, the Government has provided antigen tests that do not require laboratory processing and can provide results within an hour.
According to the Government website those who do not return home by 9th December are advised to undertake a further "period of restricted contact" to limit the chance of infection.
The University of Suffolk will have all lectures available online from 9th December, with some already taking place virtually from today.
Since mid-November the university has carried out a pilot project to test students, which has been extended to cover the travel window, allowing students to take up to two tests per week.
Chantalle Hawley, Head of Student Services at University of Suffolk, said: "The asymptomatic programme is available for students to be able to take the test at a point that is relevant and appropriate for them to do so, and they can take it multiple times."
The ability for students to return home is something Chantalle is pleased with, as she thinks it will be beneficial for their mental health to spend time with family.
While a lot of students commute to the university, the "majority" will be returning home using personal transport such as cars or lifts with family members, avoiding the potential risk of public transport.
The Government says it plans to utilise "mass testing " to ensure a safe return of students in the new year, but universities are yet to be informed on how that will take place.
Chantalle added: "We are awaiting more news and advice from the Government on how universities will manage their return in January, so we're keeping a really close eye on it. We're certainly taking a lot of lessons from what we've learned from the asymptomatic pilot project, and working really closely with Public Health Suffolk."