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!).

If rules become widespread about mixing households, does that mean DCs can't come home for a visit?

Quite possibly Piggy. DD and her friends have already said that they would rather be in lockdown in their house share then scattered at their homes with no-one to socialise with. Her firends are being pretty responsible. One of her friends has a boyfriend at the university, and they have agreed not to visit each other, so as not to burst the bubble.

I was thinking about Christmas though...or just a weekend at home.

@Piggywaspushed I think if the not mixing bubbles kicks in (I think it already has in the parts of the UK which are in local lockdowns) nationally again, our young people would have to choose uni bubble or family bubble (but not moving between the two).

This would be very hard on some. My DD lives with only one other person, and if the friend wants to stay there over Xmas but DD wants to come home, then in theory she would have to remain here which would be injurious to her education, in which case she would possibly stay there as well. I would not be happy with that.

I must say that your DC are very disciplined. I don't believe my DS and his mates capable of that level of self sacrifice. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

DD and one of her house share friends are studying biomedical sciences, one is a medical student, and the boyfriend is a medical student. I think they find it easier to understand the transmission of viruses and can see the bigger picture. One of th students is a mature student, and DD is a year older having had a gap year. They like to have fun, but they are all pretty sensible when they need to be.

Just reading all this. We live in a northern town so are preparing for local lockdown, however I don’t think it’s going to affect me or my husband and my teens just won’t be able to visit friends at home. DD2 is out for lunch with friends so I guess she will just have long coffees at Costa more regularly to catch up with friends.

I am hoping that return at Christmas will be allowed. The Isle of Man with its borders closed allows residents to leave but they have to self isolate for 14d when they return. If I have concerns then that’s what I’ll ask DD1 to do, but I think DD2 is more at risk of getting the Virus at college in Liverpool mixing with kids from all over the northwest area And travelling in by train. DD1 is another one who will be happy to socialise in her house and won’t miss the pubs being open past 10pm. She will miss socialising with the other house in their friendship group.

Hope your DD is recovering @simbobs. I think the virus is going to sweep through the student population.

Even if the no mixing households thing comes in I’d be happy for DD to come home. She and we are in low risk areas and she and housemates being sensible.

@Ginfordinner, I think you are right that your DD, house mates and b/f are aware in a way that not all undergraduates will be. I guess if they're not having many 'in person' lectures/seminars etc. then they won't be having 'accidental meet-ups.

The choreographing of socialising and having a love life without breaking the rules will be quite a challenge though.

Gin wish all flatmates were as sensible. There’s already ‘don’t grass on a mate’ stuff out there.

There will be a lot of peer pressure not to grass, I agree. I doubt that DD will grass on anyone.

My DD commutes to a local uni. We live in a low case area but the uni is in a high case area. Her timetable is just 2 hours a week actually in uni, but online sessions every day (not great for her part time job). I'm not sure how she will be able to have just one bubble? A complete ban on coming home for Christmas etc for her will not be able to happen. I'm confused about how this pans out for commuting students.

@FozzieMK surely home is her household bubble. University is her place of education and her job is her place of work. Students on course with face to face contact are all mixing bubbles as co-workers do, but socially distanced

@FozzieMK I think your DD would class home as her bubble and then commuting to Uni would be just the same as anyone else where you live who commutes every day to work. It's her place of education as Gym said above. There are thousands of people - children, students and adults commuting on public transport to get to school and work. So fortunately she will be unaffected by any Christmas bans :-)

One of the halls in Newcastle now has a couple of positive cases. They are blaming it on a flat party. Apparently the police are now checking CCTV to see who is flouting the lockdown.

Campus police or ‘police’ police?

The real police I think

Good

These aren't university owned halls. I have never heard of them.

Apologies if that sounds blunt - may help in a situation in a few days time!

They could have a couple of positive cases without anyone flouting the rules. It is quite easily done. DD went out only once and met one other person (before new rules were discussed) and must have caught it from them.

No need to apologise @Zandathepanda.

True @simbobs. I was reading posts on the uni Facebook page.

Must admit I was pretty appalled by the behaviour of the students at OBU as reported in The Times. But then it was a newspaper report so maybe not without an agenda!

The most DS will probably do is forget his mask when going to shops and maybe have 7 people in his house, But I think he will be bored by all the queueing for pubs.

I don't think he will open the hand gel I packed or wash his hands.

Out of sight...

My DS said last year that pubs were too expensive so they just bought drinks in Aldi and congregated in his flat. Now he is living with that group anyway, and they are not allowed to use the common room so they may not meet anyone else. He takes a mask but not the hand sanitiser. Usually his gf has some but she will not be there.

@simbobs DS wears his mask religiously but I'm not convinced he'll be washing/airing it regularly or washing his hands.

I am hoping that maybe they 'flip' the freshers' festivities to January or maybe the end of the year?