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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

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!

965 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 14/09/2020 17:07

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!).

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simbobs · 04/10/2020 22:19

It is horrendous! Now DS says perhaps he does have it, and his gf has been notified that someone in her 6th form class has tested positive, so they should both be self isolating. The problem is that they are currently both in our house, we are away and now don't think we can go home ad DH is vulnerable. What a mess! He needs to get a test but can't get back to uni, nor stay with us. What on earth are we going to do?

Baytreemum · 04/10/2020 22:21

@Jano69 I just had a look at the covid dashboard and it says:
An issue was identified overnight on Friday 2 October in the automated process that transfers positive cases data to PHE. It has now been resolved.

The cases by publish date for 3 and 4 October include 15,841 additional cases with specimen dates between 25 September and 2 October — they are therefore artificially high for England and the UK.

... so hopefully things are not as bad as they might seem.

Witchend · 04/10/2020 22:35

@Jano69

It's not good reading even when you drill down into the figures. I've posted this on the figures site:

September 25, original figure 6,874 now 7831
September 26, original figure 6,042 now 6786
September 27, original figure 5,693 now 6450
September 28, original figure 4,044 now 4044
September 29, original figure 7,143 now 8558
September 30, original figure 7,108 now 10 157
October 1, original figure 6,914 now 11 047
October 2, original figure 6,968 now 11 754

But that means we've been over 10k since 30th and steadily going up this week. That means people have been making decisions based on it levelling off, which it looked like it was, and it wasn't.
It can't be just uni students-that 780 suddenly looks like a drop in the ocean.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 05/10/2020 06:57

@simbobs could your DS stay at his girlfriend's? Not ideal but nothing is at the moment. Hope they are okay.

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bigTillyMint · 05/10/2020 07:04

Oh gosh @simbobs, so sorry to hear your news. Your DS should be able get a test wherever he is by just putting his details in on the website? My DS hasn’t properly registered with a GP either but got a test straightaway yesterday, Mind you o think that might be because DU have set up a testing site at one of the colleges, but I know of others who have definitely done that.

I think there must be a massive increase in the numbers of students testing positive from what my DC have told me.

simbobs · 05/10/2020 08:36

@Newmodelarmy I believe his gf will be staying with her dad who lives in a different town. I actually hold him responsible for this as he invited DS over. Otherwise he would be at uni, and if covid positive would not have been near our house.

@bigTillyMint DS didn't download the NHS app despite being asked to. He will try to get a test, but I know the nearest centre is more than 2 miles away. If he is asked to go anywhere else it will be impossible. I haven't heard from him yet but he wasn't feeling well yesterday, though not typical covid symptoms. Despite being taken to A&E they only took his temperature and checked blood oxygen. A missed opportunity, I think.

If he tests negative it means he didn't bring infection from uni. He should isolate because gf been notified of a case in her school but that is not such a close contact, so I think he should go back to uni in that case (unless gf positive, obviously).

Such a mess! We can't really stay where we are and have nowhere else to go. DH is up in arms. I am going to be glued to the phone instead of enjoying the break we so badly needed. To be continued...

Alicatz66 · 05/10/2020 09:10

@simbobs ... bloody hell .. poor you .. my DS couldn't get a test at uni so him and housemate had them delivered .

Jano69 · 05/10/2020 09:37

@simbobs heart felt sympathies for your current situation and the fact you've lost the break you really need....

simbobs · 05/10/2020 10:06

Thanks all. Still waiting for an update, but we are going out anyway so that I don't sit all day worrying.

Badbadbunny · 05/10/2020 10:19

DS and his flat mates are having to isolate as one of them tested positive after partying every night. The others behaved themselves and have only been out a couple of times and only for a couple of drinks. They're seriously pissed at him. To make matters worse, he's buggered off home (breaching the rules re travel etc), leaving them behind to suffer. They went into lockdown 4 days ago, and havn't heard a thing from the Uni - no support, no advice, nothing at all.

bigTillyMint · 05/10/2020 10:29

So DS tested negative despite all the others in his house testing positive. So I think he must have had it back at the start of lockdown when he had s v high temp for like 2 hours and was very exhausted for a few days and had diarrhoea.

Jano69 · 05/10/2020 10:43

Oh my goodness, Covid updates for our DC now flooding this thread.

@bigTillyMint Pleased your DS tested negative. Your analysis sounds about right.

@Badbadbunny - selfish behaviour and rotten for your DS and remaining flat mates in isolation.

Ginfordinner · 05/10/2020 10:43

I hopeit is negative @simbobs.

DD has tested negative, but she doesn't feel well at all.

bengalcat · 05/10/2020 11:00

Mine and her housemates are ok thus far . Living out but was frepping last week . Think she’s had enough of dealing with vomit !

Jano69 · 05/10/2020 11:25

@Ginfordinner - How worrying for you...

@bengalcat - DS was frepping too, saw too much vomit but so far clear of positive test results within his immediate group. I'm sure it's only a matter of time....

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 05/10/2020 12:18

Oh no, this is like the 'Ten gree bottles...' song :-(.

@simbobs what a pain for you and your DS. A bit irresponsible for your DS's girlfriend's father to invite him over. I really do think the students, whether they test positive or not, should be encouraged to stay on campus or in their university town/city rather than galavanting. And also, horrible for you that your break has been ruined.

Is it our DD who has CFS @Ginfordinner? That's a worry that she's not feeling well.

@Badbadbunny so annoying when your DS has been abiding by the rules.

I think PHE needs to produce a very short but sharp film that really messages the potentially 'lethal' impact of not abiding by the rules, in terms of the wider population. It's clear that a lot of people aren't thinking much beyond themselves when undertaking 'risky' activities.

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Jano69 · 05/10/2020 12:23

OMG I'm now singing 10 Green Bottles silently in my mind... thanks @NewModelArmyMayhem18 Confused

Baytreemum · 05/10/2020 12:47

Sorry to hear about all those who are suffering symptoms etc. Does anyone even know how recently you have to have started suffering from covid in order to test positive? Is it possible that some students came to university already positive and didn't catch it when they got there? Maybe we won't ever know, as they didn't test everyone on arrival, like they have on some US campuses.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 05/10/2020 13:25

Sorry @Jano69

You have a point there @Baytreemum. The universities with good testing facilities on-site (UEA being one), should be doing random testing too. I wonder if they are.

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Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 05/10/2020 13:54

The Daily Fail has just reported a large outbreak at Sheffield University (500).

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Michaelah · 05/10/2020 14:22

@Baytreemum

Sorry to hear about all those who are suffering symptoms etc. Does anyone even know how recently you have to have started suffering from covid in order to test positive? Is it possible that some students came to university already positive and didn't catch it when they got there? Maybe we won't ever know, as they didn't test everyone on arrival, like they have on some US campuses.
There seems to quite often be quoted a 5 day window from the start of symptoms for testing to be accurate, but I am not sure how certain that is. Makes the difficulty of some people in getting tests especially irritating. Also, harder to track for young people who seem to have little or no symptoms.

I suspect that around 2% of this agegroup generally have it, so where widespread university testing is being done eg Northumbria, the results aren't suprising.

Although they seem to have taken many in authority in suprise judging by the practical response.

Horsemad · 05/10/2020 16:03

Anyone with a student at Newcastle Uni? Just wondering what's going on there. My DS is doing a Masters but as he applied late (got accepted last week after appeal), he hadn't booked accommodation and he hasn't had his timetable yet, so unsure if there's anything f2f.

Think he's planning on staying home for the foreseeable though.

Ginfordinner · 05/10/2020 16:19

They are still struggling because of the recent cyber attack.

Just heard another student died at Park View. I hope this frightens other students into not taking illegal substances. Feel so sad for their families.

Witchend · 05/10/2020 17:24

@simbobs hope it's negative. Cross fingers.

Although I was singing 10 green students bottles for a minute there.

bigTillyMint · 05/10/2020 17:27

@Ginfordinner, it’s very sad. And scary.

Why only 2% @Michaelah? Is that daily rather than on total?