Important safety information as you return to campus for in-person learning

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the vast majority of DMU students have adhered strictly to the guidelines and the laws relating to Covid-19. We want to thank-you for playing your part in keeping the university and wider community safe during these challenging times. 

Now that we have welcomed back more students back to campus for in-person learning, and the Government has outlined a new four-step process to gradually ease and eventually remove all national restrictions over a four-month timeline, we urge all of our students to redouble your efforts to follow the rules strictly throughout this period. Please do not view this roadmap as an excuse to break safety rules.

We’ve all come so far during the past year to risk new outbreaks, further restrictions and a longer delay to a return to normality. The Prime Minister is stressing a cautious approach to further boost the encouraging progress of our national vaccination programme. We want to ensure a safe and secure return to campus and remind you of some key safety guidance. Please read carefully and follow the below steps: 

• Please do not car share with other students to reduce the risk of transmission when travelling
• Follow gov.uk travel safety guidance if using public transport
• Take two Covid-19 lateral flow tests – the first immediately upon your return and then again three days later. You should then continue to be get tested twice weekly thereafter. Testing is available to book at The Watershed in Upperton Road. You are also encouraged to be tested before you travel back to university if local community testing facilities are available.
• Once you have returned please continue to follow government social distancing guidelines and lockdown restrictions to limit the spread of the virus and protect yourself, your flat mates and the wider community.
• You must not hold flat parties or visit other households – even if you’re living in the same accommodation block. Failure to abide by the law means you could face police action resulting in substantial fines and/or disciplinary action from the university. You can be given a fixed penalty notice of up to a maximum of £6,400 for repeated breaches. If you hold, or are involved in holding, an illegal gathering of more than 15 people, the police can now issue fines of £800 to every participant. £10,000 penalties can be, and have been, issued to organisers of any illegal gatherings of more than 30 people.
• Once you return to your term-time accommodation, in order to minimise transmission, the Government is strongly advising that students who only returned from 8 March to remain in their term-time accommodation and not travel wherever possible. However, some students may wish to travel home for the Spring/Easter break, particularly students whose courses resumed in-person teaching from the beginning of term. It is legally permissible for students to travel home for the Spring break provided you do so only once before 29 April (you are able to travel back at any time). However, if you do travel home you should get tested before you leave and tested again before you travel back to university (where community testing facilities are available). If you test positive, you will be legally required to self-isolate for ten days and should not travel. You should then continue to get tested twice weekly thereafter.

 Also, once you are back on campus, it is critical that you continue to follow the advice and guidance the university has provided on the Your DMU Safety microsite.

 The key points to follow are to:

• Use the DMU Safe Trace app. Please remember (and ask others) to always scan in, where prompted when entering buildings and spaces on campus and record your seat number.
• Wear a face covering in all teaching, study spaces and common areas indoors no matter the layout, unless there is a legitimate medical or personal reason for exemption.
• Follow important health and safety principles by regularly washing your hands, follow directional signage and maintain social distancing at all times.
• Report to DMU if you test positive for Covid-19 by completing our DMU Safe Trace positive case webform within 24 hours.
• Report to DMU if you are asked to self-isolate by completing our DMU Safe Trace self-isolation webform.

To support compliance with the safety measures on campus we also have Covid Marshals who will regularly check that students are following the guidelines. Repeated failure to follow the guidance, or any situation where others are put at risk, or where any other aggravating factors are present, will lead to disciplinary action from the university. Dependent upon the nature of misconduct, action can include expulsion from the university.

We at DMU would urge all students to follow this advice as part of our shared commitment for the safety of yourselves, your fellow students, DMU staff and the wider community.

Following this advice will continue to help prevent outbreaks and ensure we can return to normality sooner rather than later.