COVID-19 Update for Students – 19 March 2020

As the situation with COVID-19 continues to develop we will do our utmost to keep you updated in relation to university services and NHS advice.

Library

As Government guidance has been updated, we have taken the difficult decision to close our library buildings over the coming days. This means that we will close the Harold Cohen Library to users from 5pm Friday, 20 March. The Sydney Jones Library will operate a reduced weekend service, closing at 5pm on Saturday, 21 and opening 9am to 5pm on Sunday, 22 March, with remote help available online, and will then close to users from 5pm Monday, 23 March.

Supporting your learning and research needs remains our primary focus, and we are actively enhancing the ways in which the library can continue to do this online.  We will continue to develop and enhance our capacity to support and enhance the online and remote services we offer our users over the coming days. In addition, services such as Get It For Me remain fully operational. KnowHow and Writing@Liverpool sessions will continue be delivered online and we will enhance this provision further.

For a full list of the ways in which the Library will continue to operate online to support you, please read the full letter from the University Librarian here https://libguides.liverpool.ac.uk/librarycovid19

London campus

As the situation in London is changing particularly quickly and ahead of the rest of the country, for the safety of staff and students we have closed the London campus until further notice. All London students have already been informed and the student experience team remain available via email or telephone (+44 (0)20 7682 4646, stuexldn@liverpool.ac.uk).

Student advice and support

Student support and wellbeing services, including counselling and mental health advisory services, will continue to operate and the Alsop building will be open from 10-4 during the week. Additional phone and email-based support will also be available to students between 9 and 5. You can access the Big White Wall 24 hours a day if you need support and they are now uploading and hosting content specifically around looking after yourself during the COViD-19 outbreak: https://v2.bigwhitewall.com/resources/article/looking-after-yourself-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak.

The Student Admin Centre continues to operate but will move to the Alsop building on Monday.

Letting us know where you are

We know that some of you are making plans to return home at this time and that others want or need to stay in Liverpool.  To help us understand where you are so that we can plan our support for you please update your personal details on Liverpool Life.

Extenuating circumstances

If you are on a non-clinical programme, you will not be required to provide medical evidence of any health condition or, if you are a parent or carer, evidence of a school closure, to support a claim for extenuating circumstances as we do not want to place any additional burden on the NHS at this time. You do not need to submit extenuating circumstances claims in relation to COVID-19 as we will all be substantially affected by this pandemic and our Board of Examiner processes will take this into account. If you are on a clinical programme, please take advice from your School.

Cases of COVID-19

We are aware of a very small number of staff and students who have now tested positive for COVID-19. We are in touch with each individual and providing them with support. Following the government’s decision to move from the containment to the delay phase, Public Health England is no longer tracing contacts of those who tested positive for COVID-19.

As you will understand, in order to respect the individuals’ right to confidentiality we cannot comment on individual cases but please be assured that, as we become aware of a new diagnosis, we are working with the staff member or student to understand whether this presents a risk to our on-campus population. If we become aware of a risk to a specific group of students or staff, we will contact those affected immediately to let them know and to offer support.

Your health

The NHS has clear information https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ on when to self-isolate and how to effectively social distance and I would urge you to read these pages carefully. If you do need to self-isolate, please also follow the instructions on our FAQ page https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/coronavirus-advice-and-guidance/ in relation to informing the University.

The NHS advice on social distancing includes measures such as: only travelling on public transport if you need to; working from home, if you can; avoiding social activities, such as going to pubs, restaurants, theatres and cinemas; and avoiding events with large groups of people.

As ever, we will continue to provide you with updates on email. Our FAQ pages are also updated regularly https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/coronavirus-advice-and-guidance/.