Update on Covid-19 cases

To keep our students, staff, visitors and local communities safe, we have made substantial changes to how our campuses operate, The health and wellbeing of our University is our top priority.

As a University, we are committed to reducing the spread of Covid-19 and are working together to keep our campuses and communities safe. All our facilities, including teaching and study spaces, have been prepared to support social distancing and we are actively promoting Covid-safe behaviours in accordance with Government guidelines.

We have clear procedures for any students or staff members exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms and for students needing to self-isolate on- or off-campus, we have a package of support available.  

We have approximately 4,500 staff members and typically have a student body of around 19,500.

To put our figures into context, national and regional case figures are available via the BBC website.

Following recent Government changes to testing as part of plans for 'Living with Covid', we will no longer be publishing weekly test data. This is still available by request.  

These figures include students living on our UK campuses, students living off-campus (in the region and the rest of the UK) and UK-based staff.  

The figures do not include those who have come to the end of their self-isolation following a positive test.

Total number of cases reported to the University since the start of September 2020.

We are providing support to all individual students and households who are required to self-isolate, whether they are on or off campus.

Our guide to support for students who are self-isolating is available online.

When we receive notification of a student needing to self-isolate, their academic school is informed. Staff from across the school, including academic staff, advisors and administrative staff, are on hand to provide support.

This includes contacting students if they would find this helpful, to ensure they are on track with their studies, and providing any resources, materials or support they need to help with their remote learning.

Professional services departments from across the University are working together to provide a package of care for students who are self-isolating.

• This includes providing a box of essentials to get them through the first few days.
• Staff are working with a dedicated team of student helpers to provide students help with laundry, fresh bedding, cleaning materials, food deliveries, prescription collections and mail.
• A range of support is being offered to students, including welfare checks by the Colleges and Community Life Team, regular check in calls and emails, which can be to individual students and households.
• Students can access online specialist support such as, counselling services and mental health support, if required, through the Student Support and Wellbeing Team.
• We also have a 24/7 nursing team available at the Canterbury campus.
• A programme of events, activities, challenges and competitions have been brought together to help students get through their self-isolation period. This includes online sporting activities, virtual club and society events through Kent Union/The Hub.
• Students can also access a wide variety of film, theatre productions and a diverse music library which they can enjoy independently or as a household.  

Students

Please follow our Student Guide 'What to do if you have Covid-19 symptoms or advised to self-isolate'. The guide takes you through three key steps:

1. Self-isolate:
   Self-isolate immediately for 10 days unless you get a negative test. Read more on self-isolation.
2. Test:
   You can book a Covid-19 test online or by calling 119. Read more about booking a test
3. Inform:
   Inform us that you are self-isolating by completing the online form. You do not have to wait for your test result before you tell us. We will then let your school know and contact you regarding support available.

Staff

Please follow NHS guidance on identifying symptoms and booking a test.

Should you test positive and/or need to self-isolate, please notify your line manager and email our HR and Occupational Health teams at StaffWellbeing@kent.ac.uk.

More information is available on our staff information pages.