University life for our soon to be Year 2 undergrads (2019 intake): social bubbles (bursting?), the new normal and hopefully no second wave

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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@Zandathepanda glad to hear dd is getting better, that must be such a relief. Loving her wit too, poor teacher! Not quite what he was expecting.

Oh I still haven’t watched that. I remember you saying your DD was well beforehand @Zandathepanda. So glad the result ‘system’ worked in her favour. My DD2 is enjoying 6th form so far, wishing your youngest all the best for her ongoing recovery.

DS is obligingly staying here until after my (and DH's) birthday on Friday but then wants to go back on Saturday. Which has induced packing panic. In me, not him.

On the CV topic, DS will have nothing. Not a thing. An FA coaching certificate from 2017.

He did make vague attempts to get a job but even Next etc want experience. Our area has zero transport networks so getting a job is not easy. Plus we didn't really want him working in a supermarket at the moment. He'll just have to find his own way and at some point realise he needs a job! I have moved on from the arguments about value to society and fulfilment (since he likes to goad me by saying he never wants a job!) and have just gone for raw materialism now, which sticks in my throat. He still needs to grow up!

Just to counter the partying teems narrative, neither of mine have seen anyone since March, except for football training for DS2. The media representation of teens does suggest all teenagers party, gather in groups and socialise a lot. Lots do. Lots don't.

DS2 has obviously lost brass band but still ahs football (not sure how much sense that makes!) DS2 tired to organise a pub trip but, true to form, it never happened. So, DS1 is definitely going to get a bit of a culture shock next week when he has to see people!

I noted that Lincoln has had 0 to 1 confirmed case a week all summer but last week it went up to 9. A little bit of digging showed these were in their 20s. I know the vast majority of these young people will be fine but Lincoln does have large healthcare departments : it is one of their big things so I hope messages of social responsibility are sinking in there.

Ds1 is going to collect his keys today. But he's not going to move in. We had a dilemma last weekend when ds went out with a friend (in a group of 4 of them) The friend is a twin and the twin brother had just been to Zante, arrived home and his work insisted he did a covid test, it came back positive. Ds hasn't been near him but been near the brother. Ds got himself a covid test and missed a week off work in a panic incase he gets it. Anyway...ds's test was negative but the friend who's brother was positive still hasn't had his results (posted last Tuesday) so Ds is going to collect the keys wearing a mask, he will quickly check the place and choose his room. Then he will return home. He is working this coming week, that will be his last week, then he might move in next weekend. I think just one of his housemates is moving in today. The others are just collecting keys and returning home as they have jobs still. We are at UEA and apart from the one moving in, he's from London, the others are all Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. So are all driving there today just for the afternoon.

As for the covid. Twin 1 was positive. My son had been out with twin 2. No illness or symptoms for twin 1. The parents and older brother all drove to a test centre once twin 1 was positive. They are all negative. Twin 2 was at work so didn't test. He should be isolating for 14 days from the day of twin 1's positive test. But he's been going to work as usual! This has made me quite annoyed. Had he told Ds his brother had just flown home from Zante ds and his other mates wouldn't have gone out with him. Thankfully the mum made twin 1 isolate when he returned home and disinfected everywhere each time he used the bathroom. So hopefully twin 1 is also negative. This whole thing has made me realise how some people really don't care and how easily things could spread. But if twin 1's work hadn't insisted on a test he'd be none the wiser anyway.

@Piggywaspushed yes totally agree re not all young people are the same. DS made do with 'virtual' contact with his friends until mid-August when he finally decided to meet his old school friends in person - and then did so twice in rapid succession!

Just read this in The Sunday Times today re UEA:

"The University of East Anglia (UEA) will announce this week that it is to test staff and 17,500 students up to twice weekly... Professor Neil Hall, head of the Earlham Institute, which will run the tests at UEA, said if students were quarantined, “halls of residence [could become] the cruise ships of the second spike”. He added that university labs could help boost the government’s tracing programme."

I saw that about UEA and instantly thought of you!

To a large extent this is what we are up against as a society ican. the tests appear such a hassle and , if one has no to few symptoms, you are less likely to think of others, I guess.

I think the inaccessibility of test centres for uni students does need proper consideration as otherwise it will find tis way thought university communities, as suggested. And some students are medically vulnerable and do deserve protection. DS said the other week he'd get a taxi to a test centre if he needed to. I had to disabuse him of this notion...

Interestingly, @Piggywaspushed, on the UEA thread we had been discussing whether universities with medical schools (and nearby teaching hospitals) would be more 'hot shot' with testing. You'd like to think so. Lincoln has a medical school now doesn't it, so worth your DS1 checking if the have a similar initiative to UEA.

DD met 1 friend from school a few times in the summer and virtual parties with uni friends so she’s desperate for contact. 4/5 of her house have moved in and her first night was good.

Oh, yes. that's a good point re Lincoln.

No parties here. I think DS has been talking to friend’s online but no face to face whatsoever and definitely no parties. To be honest when I read about teens and “too much partying”, I think how nice that must be, all that teenage liveliness! I know, I know the reality is very different.

Re Covid safety measures, Cardiff are doing the for:

We know how important it is to ensure that cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Cardiff stay at the very low levels currently being reported. Essential to this strategy is our decision to offer a programme of ongoing coronavirus testing to all our students and staff who are asymptomatic. Asymptomatic means you show no signs or symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).

All students and staff who are asymptomatic will have the opportunity to take a saliva test shortly after arriving on campus. You will receive an invitation by email to attend our testing station and we'd encourage you to book an appointment as soon as possible. The test is very safe and nothing to worry about. We will guide you through the process and there will be dedicated staff on hand to answer any questions and queries you may have.
Taking a coronavirus (COVID-19) test is voluntary however, we would strongly urge everyone to participate and help to protect our community. The greater the engagement from you, the greater the impact the testing service will have in terms of keeping us all safe.

So that puts the mind at rest a little plus infection rates up there are a lot lower.

I'm very impressed at Cardiff and UEA's testing plans. I hope all universities follow suit. It seems universities and industry are leading the way and Government will simply rubber stamp it as new policy. I hope Durham will introduce similar measures.

Essential to this strategy is our decision to offer a programme of ongoing coronavirus testing to all our students and staff who are asymptomatic
Don't you only know you're asymptomatic after a positive test.
Surely what they actually mean is allowing people without symptoms to test to see if they're asymptomatic?
Or do they mean they'll allow you to test without symptoms if you know you've been in contact?

@witchend Good question. I thought about this as well and concluded they must be they’re working from the basis of EVERYONE is Asymptomatic and will therefore be tested. The wording is a bit clumsy but I’m assuming they’re testing everyone.

I would take that to mean anyone without symptoms, as anyone WITH symptoms would already be eligible for a test.

At Newcastle all students returning to campus will be issued with a safety pack containing a thermometer, a reusable and washable face covering and a refillable hand sanitiser bottle, together with instructions on how to use them.

There is nothing on the website about testing, but as DD will be in the medical school I’m sure she will be updated regularly, as will all other students.

Well that’s nice @Ginfordinner. I sent all that up with DD as will most. It’s the testing they need. Durham have been told to wear face coverings everywhere inside on campus, even the main library where they distance and only up to 6 or 8 hrs pw.

Big increase on positive tests today, highest since 22nd May.

coronavirus.data.gov.uk

Let's hope our unis can play their part in keeping this under control.

That's a huge increase, almost double the number we have been seeing. The thing is that we have to somehow live with this and get on with life. DH and I have been very careful, DD has mainly been out for solitary walks, and seen friends 3 times with appropriate distancing. She is now back in Newcastle where cases are higher than here. DS, my 2nd year, has been seeing friends since lockdown eased, and I don't think they do much at all about social distancing. He is the most likely in our family to catch it, so the sooner he goes back the better. He is hopeless at being ill, though. He'll just want his Mum.

DS just infuriated me when I tried to have a serious 'what happens if you start coughing when you are at uni' chat. I said' what will you do?' and he said 'nothing'. Grrr.

He is in a bad mood because of a row with DH so I am assuming he is juts sulking and didn't mean it!

gin that sounds really good.

DD hasn't used the library so far. She has managed to find what she needs online. It didn't help that the library was some distance from her halls, and she was often too tired to go out again.

Gin is she near the metro now? The library isn’t too bad from Haymarket.

Dd in Jesmond but not close to a stop. She’ll be doing lots of walking.