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!).

It isn't as bad as it sounds.
The website basically says they've missed (or hidden if you are sceptical) some cases dating back a week or so. Worldometer is only reporting just over 7k cases, so I suspect that we'll see that it hasn't fallen but hasn't risen either.

Not good, but nothing like as bad as the initial look.

@Ginfordinner, DS’s college at DU is completely catered (as are many there AFAIK) so he had no choice! I think he is quite enjoying cooking so far this term

Terrible stories of lack of support from Edinburgh, UCL and Manchester from friends DC - I know the accommodation staff may feel overwhelmed, but surely they could have planned better? It’s hardly a surprise that they have loads of students under lockdown?

For dd1 the problem with catered (she chose her college deliberately as self-catered) is you have to pay for 3 meals a day 7 days a week mostly. She wouldn't eat much breakfast, most of the time she had a 12:00 and 2:00 lecture so would rather not dash back to gobble a meal and dash out again, so would probably have been paying for all but eating about 1/3-1/2 of the meals.

When I was at college it was run as a cafeteria and you paid (in a complicated ticket system) for what you got, which is much fairer for someone without a huge appetite.
I think if you have a hungry boy rugby player who also rows (so will be up for breakfast) it's probably good value.

That's one of the reasons DD wouldn't have wanted catered @Witchend. She has a friend in Newcastle who used to have to dash off after a late lecture so that she didn't miss the evening meal. She would also never be up in time for breakfast, and being vegetarian would get bored with the (more than likely unappetising, lack of choice and) unadventurous veggie options.

Yes, had DS got into Durham he would have swerved catered accommodation - I seem to recall it added £2K onto the yearly cost? There is no way DS would have wanted three 'halls' meals a day (he doesn't eat breakfast for one), particularly given that he is still fussy about food.

I can see that it would work for mega busy students who don't want to be bothered with catering for themselves. Possibly those who have been at boarding school too, so for whom it's just a continuation of what they're used to.

I recall DSib who was at Cambridge saying that they had corridor friends who were incapable of boiling an egg on the one evening of the week when 'halls' food wasn't available (think Sunday evening).

How are all the self-isolating young people doing over the weekend? DN didn't sound particularly upset about the prospect as yet, although granted, it's early days (and most of the flatmates haven't had their tests as yet).

DD enjoyed being catered last year. She appreciated the brunch breakfasts at the weekends in particular . Also, it just took one worry away for her and me as I knew she’d be fed! There was flexibility as she could get lunch at different sites next to her lecture halls, not just in the canteen.

DD and her house have already done 14 days quarts they went to France before going up to Durham. They stayed in a house and their flight was empty, so ironically they’re more at risk in the NE!

Quarantine not quarts.

I’ve just done a huge online shop for DS’s flat as he couldn’t get a slot. What with querying many of the vague items listed it took 2 hours! and I pity the poor accommodation staff who have to lug it all upstairs! Alcohol features fairly largely. He’s rung reception to warn them it’s coming and it’s bagless - they were fine about it. Though they haven’t seen it yet!

I never worried about DD not being fed. She likes her food too much, and she is an excellent and adventurous cook. She also loves vegetables.

This is worrying news
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/woman-18-dies-after-being-19046235
DD was at Park View last year.

My thoughts are with the girl's family.

My sons (and daughters in their day) liked catered in year 1 but that was breakfast and dinner (or lunch at weekends) which seemed a reasonable balance. No need to cook and if they missed breakfast they would just get something later.

My DS in Nottingham in a house .. 2 of housemates have now found out they were with people last week who have tested positive .. so the house has isolated .. DS test came back negative today . He got a test delivered as said impossible to get a uni one !!! ... I've been shopping in Brum student territory today .. students all in their Birmingham Uni masks !! .. ( the non mask wearers were the locals) ...

DD had a covid test today. She hasn't been feeling well since one of her friends tested positive, so she and one of her other house share friends have been for a test. Results expected tomorrow. I hope they can get this done and dusted before term starts.

I am now thankful that term is starting later than usual.

Oh gosh @Ginfordinner that’s terrible. My DGodD was in there as a Fresher

DS loved the brunches too @Benjispruce2 and used to get double of everything you could help yourself to at other meals - a hungry footballer not rugby boy

He went for a test this morning with his mate / both the girls in his house have tested positive. The third girl now waiting till QT done to come back.

How awful @Ginfordinner. That poor family
Just had a text convo with DD who is well at the moment thank goodness. Everything online until local lockdown review in 2 weeks.But she’s coping and happy and that’s all that matters right now.

It is starting to get serious now, isn't it? Just heard from DS that his gf's Dad took him to A&E today as he was suddenly feeling really weird. Not covid related, though I would have thought that they would have tested him while he was there. They sent him away and told him to wait for a phone call from out of hours gp. He still hasn't registered with one at uni, probably because he hasn't seen one in years. I have told him he really should do so, though. So far no sign of the virus in his area or social group. So sad about the girl in Newcastle. One of DS's friends lives in that accommodation.

Hope he’s ok @simbobs.

Thank you. He isn't sure what is wrong but so many problems stem from overdoing things on the social front. He is at home at the moment, though we are away, so he has encountered a freezing house with no readily available food. I have had to coach him to reprogram the heating by phone.

@Ginfordinner @simbobs Sorry to hear more concerning updates, sending love and hugs.

@jano69 thank you. He is staying at our house with his gf tonight. If he doesn't feel better tomorrow I have told him to phone the doctor. He only has f2f on a Friday and could work elsewhere for a couple of days if he had to. Worrying when we are away, but hopefully nothing serious.

I asked DD where she'd go if she had to have a test (York) and she sent me a pic of the view from her window and the new testing centre they've put up in the car park there.

I've tried to impress upon her the importance of not running out of food and to keep her fridge and freezer shelf stocked up in case of SI.

Yes, I have had similar conversations with DS. They would struggle to get anything delivered.

I think we're losing control again - 22,961 cases reported today. Last week's figures were obviously completely inaccurate. I guess my half term holiday's cancelled

@Witchend To think I eeeked at yesterday's meagre 12,000 cases!