Bristol

[laughoutquiet]

Following from another thread really...

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-areas-ranked-worst-coronavirus-4637950.amp

Why, if Bristol has such high rates, is it still in tier one? Maybe because surrounding areas are lower.... but wouldn't that be a reason to increase the tier to stop other areas increasing?

I'm so confused as to reasoning why

We're south of Bristol and Bath, and here a friend's mum had a viral infection before Christmas which damaged her lungs so badly that she had to shield during the first lockdown. Totally fine before that - even her consultant said that it could have been covid.

Cases in the secondary school here - although the symptomatic cases are only support staff, not students, so who knows how many there actually are.

Rather than an alcohol ban the students should just return home and have live zoom sessions online like home schooling was done during lockdown. The virus is being widely spread in university cities all because the universities want their money. Why is the government not doing more about this if they really want to reduce numbers. It is pointless the students being here.

I don't understand why boarders aren't being closed. They should have been closed back in March like other countries did.

Rather than an alcohol ban the students should just return home

I thought the same, but unfortunately this would simply explode infection all over the country as students moved back home with their parents.

It was a dreadful error to open halls.

My DD is self isolating - she is in sixth form in Bristol and someone tested positive in her year group - year 12. Year 7 and year 13 also self isolating

Just been to the dentists here in Bath. Tour groups in the Circus as normal restaurants busy etc. I'm glad Bath seems to be thriving and hope we don't have further restrictions. Fingers crossed.

Students should self isolate for two weeks once they arrive home to be safe. I would hope parents would enforce this and have more control over their children then they would whilst they are at uni. If the government are serious about reducing numbers they should do this.

@studychick81 you are absolutely right. I can only think the reason they haven't sent the students home is money.

@studychick81

Students should self isolate for two weeks once they arrive home to be safe. I would hope parents would enforce this and have more control over their children then they would whilst they are at uni. If the government are serious about reducing numbers they should do this.

It's the parents who would be at risk - and their parents. It's the household the students would move home to who would become infected, 50 or 60 year old parents and any 80 or 90 year old dependent grandparents.

Due to the age dependent nature of covid, these uni students have limited re-homing options without quarantine in advance.

Then quarantine them in advance or they self isolate in their own room at home or the whole household self isolates when they return home. This is much more preferable than spreading it to local communities in university cities.

The university student cases have dropped considerably now. Even at their peak, they didn't compete with clusters in schools and nurseries. The latest PHE surveillance report shows that in the seven weeks upto 25th October, there have been 91 clusters in nurseries and schools compared to 18 at universities and colleges. Last week there were 26 clusters in nurseries and schools and just 3 in university and colleges. The graph of the surveillance by educational age shows very clearly that incidence is dropping for university and college age students but rising for all other educational ages.

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports

The 49 page document with the graphs and charts illustrates the South West and national data.

I'm quite close to Bristol and we had something nasty going round December into January.

Our area as of last week was over 120 per 100,000 without students so we should be in tier 2 and bristol is double that so no idea why we haven't been moved up.

www.bristol.gov.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-data-cases-bristol-r-number-south-west

Bristol city council do a biweekly covid-19 report published Tuesday and Friday evenings. Most notably, they give the positivity rate for tests which can be difficult to find elsewhere. It jumped from 11.6% to 14% between the last two reports.

I,and DH, has an awful chest infection in December, it started whilst I was in Manchester but I live near Bristol. I even lost my sense of smell.

@Nousernameforme

I'm quite close to Bristol and we had something nasty going round December into January.

Our area as of last week was over 120 per 100,000 without students so we should be in tier 2 and bristol is double that so no idea why we haven't been moved up.

They look at spread into the wider community. If covid remains within the (young) uni population, they aren't as concerned. It's when the spread breaks uni bounds and moves into the community that tiers are increased.

In Bath, the 'council are writing us a letter' apparently. OK.

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/residents-receive-stark-warning-letter-4652459

I can only think the reason they haven't sent the students home is money.

That is true, but many universities are on the brink anyway, this would lead to a lot folding, which selfishly or not, they evidently and understandably aren't prepared to do when they have the option of having students on campus. Aside from a very few (if any), no uni is rolling in cash and laughing on the way to the bank.

Aside from a very few (if any), no uni is rolling in cash and laughing on the way to the bank.

The head guy is definitely doing that. 300+ thousand pounds a year salary? I guess he is the one making the main decisions too.

Well yes, but how do you think he would justify his decision? Even if he was to donate his salary, it wouldn't keep it going for long.

@Bambooble

I can only think the reason they haven't sent the students home is money.

That is true, but many universities are on the brink anyway, this would lead to a lot folding, which selfishly or not, they evidently and understandably aren't prepared to do when they have the option of having students on campus. Aside from a very few (if any), no uni is rolling in cash and laughing on the way to the bank.

I actually think Bristol uni is. I know people who work there and they seem to have a huge amount of money and power. They are buying up multiple areas of land within Bristol for their own purposes. They are greedy. I very much doubt they would fold, they are expanding and developing hugely.

Can a comparison be made between those numbers of clusters in university and in other educational settings though? I would think the number of students in schools and nurseries are far greater than those at uni so they will always have bigger clusters testing positive. It is a fair comparison per 100 people? Are Numbers falling as the students have already all had it and are now passing it on to everyone else? It started with them.

Bristol might be fine, UWE less so, but beside the point really. The need to remain competitive and to attract students, especially to make up the shortfall of international students. By closing and going remote that doesn't do that. Although likely they would be okay as they have a good reputation, they're not quite Oxbridge levels.

A lot of sacrifices have been made during this time. I am sure the gyms, cinemas, pubs and restaurants etc need to stay competitive and attract customers. I am certain many of them are facing shortfalls and possible closers. Why it it ok for them to be sacrificed but not universities? I am currently enrolled on an online only masters degree, it's easy enough to do and they still get there student fees.

Are you being serious?

I think @studychick81 has a good point. We are are all making sacrifices for the health of the nation. Why should the universities be exempt?
I also undersatnd that the UoB is extremely asset rich, although possibly not cash rich.

In 'normal' times they contribute a lot financially to local economies, UK higher education is renowned around the world, the research in many areas is world leading (not like the app, but actually so), it does wonders for UK tourism, and you cannot just open new ones quickly if demand rises and they have all closed. Investment in education is wildly important, and I say the same for colleges etc that teach trades so I don't think university is the most important thing in terms of preserving for the good of future generations, but it is vital.