Study in the time of COVID-19 (2019/20 intake): online learning, the rule of six and who knows what's next? Anything could happen!

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Following on from the previous thread as our young adults start their second year at universities up and down the land (and some overseas too!).

All DS’s flat have mild symptoms now - I agree that it’s better to get it now before term proper starts, and also better if they all get it together, as presumably then they can mix in the flat and not have to keep to their rooms. DS made a loaf of bread today to keep spirits up!

One student in my DD’s college ( she’s a frep so not living in ) tested negative . Covid , flu and any other old rhinovirus all have similar symptoms so testing important if you can get a timely test .

Apparently today's news is after 3 months the antibodies go so if there is any immunity once yo have it presumably students might get it every 3 months.

FFS, DS's phone has rebroke, His friend took him to Tesco who just brushed hi off with a 'we don't do repairs' so now he needs to go online and book a repair and all this time he is phoneless.

Is it worth him buying a cheap "dumb" phone as a spare so that you can both keep in contact? He will still have his laptop though, so you can contact via Skype/Zoom/Messenger/email?

We do use email. I am not sure Skype or zoom will work with him.

Have to see what happens but I am cross Tesco fobbed him off!

Is the Wi-Fi poor where he is?
I must admit Zoom takes a bit of working out. I didn't find it as easy or intuitive to set up as Skype.

Terrible wifi plus just his terrible unreliability!

That must be so frustrating for you Piggy

I wouldn't expect anything else from DS , to be honest...

Hope you get it sorted Piggy.

Dd's just left.
It's hard because she doesn't want to go, but she really needs to for herself mentally.
I think if she'd been raring to get back, I'd have been saying that perhaps she should stay here.
She wants to know why it always rains when dad goes to Durham

I hope your DD settles @Witchend.

DS’s flatmate has tested positive so they’re all in lockdown. He had his first online course intro today and one quarter of the psychology students are either Covid + or isolating as a precaution!

DS called earlier and said that online uni is awful and he really doesn't know what they are paying for. Lectures are all prerecorded and condensed, and they are having problems with WiFi. He also has issues with the size and layout of the kitchen in the flat, and says it is impossible for 7 people. He is having his first face to face seminar right now, and believes it is the only one for the term. It is 4 hours long, though and DS is physically incapable of sitting in one room for that length of time. Goodness knows how this will work.

Thanks @NewModelArmyMayhem18

It's a long way...

I think if either of my DC had not yet gone back, and had online tuition only I would ask them to consider not returning. I wonder how many will return after Christmas...?

DD would much rather be in lockdown with her house share friends than be isolated (and bored) at home. She says that they feel the same.

Major outbreak at Northumbria - 770(!) students test positive, about 10% symptomatic. All now self-isolating.

www.theguardian.com/education/2020/oct/02/more-than-750-students-at-northumbria-university-test-positive-for-coronavirus

@simbobs that doesn't sound good. A four hour seminar on a Friday afternoon - how grim :-).

Wow! They must be running a huge testing programme in Newcastle to find that many positive cases.

Sadly, Newcastle is a covid hotspot. I know of some Northumbria students who have it. My daugter and her household are isolating as well (Newcaste University).

[quote Bingobango69]Major outbreak at Northumbria - 770(!) students test positive, about 10% symptomatic. All now self-isolating.

www.theguardian.com/education/2020/oct/02/more-than-750-students-at-northumbria-university-test-positive-for-coronavirus[/quote]
I know of a student from that university a friends son with an interesting FB, instagram account. He has travelled to visit mates in different unis, eaten out in large groups nightly, on trains every weekend, he is having a ball. There are no words for what I think of that young man.

Infuriating, justasking111.

Oh dear, that's dreadful re the University of Northumbria :-(. So it sounds as if no social isolating has been going on at all?

They do like to party up in Newcastle...

LaBelleSauvage123 hope your DS is okay.

Thanks - DS is ok, just tired with mild temperature spikes at night and a mild cough. His accommodation block is in a student village which is shared with Northumbria students, so that may explain the rapid spread. His flat has been pretty sensible about social distancing but there were some comings and goings between flats in the first four days and a couple of house parties in another block broken up by police.