Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 March to order an immediate closure of all but essential services such as health, pharmacies and food stores and to ban gatherings of more than two people in public, travel to and from work should only be undertaken when absolutely necessary.
The University has been reducing the number of services available on the Liverpool campus over the last few weeks in order to protect staff and students. The vast majority of University staff are now working from home. Meanwhile, our London campus has completely closed. Given the government’s latest announcement, the University must now take this even further, whilst accepting that a full shutdown of our services at Liverpool is not possible.
The University has worked hard to support students who want to return home in doing so. However, for a number of reasons, some have chosen – or had no option but – to stay, and the University will need to continue to support them in the coming weeks. Therefore the University will need to provide a small number of key operational services and rely on a number of staff to maintain the continued safety and security of our campus and student community, especially in our halls of residence. Those who deliver these services provide a vital contribution to campus life, day in, day out, and the University would like to extend its heartfelt thanks for their continued dedication and commitment at this difficult time. The team will be in contact with these staff members tomorrow to discuss any other measures the University can put in place to support them during this uncertain period.
Colleagues working in laboratories tackling COVID-19 or on other pieces of work which cannot be left unattended for significant periods of time and those who need to ensure animal welfare at our veterinary campus at Leahurst will also need to continue to access campus. Again, the efforts of these staff members this time are hugely appreciated.
The University would also like to thank to all other colleagues who have been maintaining other key functions for staff and students over the last few weeks, from those in student advice and welfare services to those supporting staff with IT problems and many others. However, in line with the latest advice, it is clear that all but those staff who it is essential remain on campus, must now immediately work from home. Your line manager will be in touch as soon as possible to discuss how this will work, if they have not done so already.