University 2020 :10: Empty nests warm vests and covid tests: uni parents 2020

[sammyjoanne]

Carry on from MilicentMartha's University 9 thead
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/a4025020-University-2020-9-And-theyre-off-making-hay-while-the-sun-shines?msgid=101075411#101075411

Good point Sammy.
Also good point Choir..how much to take etc

They’ve already started saying they’ll prioritise tests for higher prevalence areas - translation, not enough tests to go around. Plus, they’re not giving the unis any help to administer the tests. In Liverpool on that really busy day with lots of people crowded in unsafe-looking queues, they tested 12,000 people, with the help of the army. Dd is in Newcastle where there are 50,000 students. That’s not gonna happen in a week, is it?

@specialted very true. As DC is in high prevalence area like lancaster they might prioritise those first over other unis. Going to be one busy week on the roads too.

@sammyjoanne, it is the PCR test which can pick up 'residual' fragments. With the lateral flow tests, the chance that a positive is a false positive is very low, but there is more concern over the possibility of a negative being a false negative. This is being referred to by online news sources, but the positive (excuse the pun) view is that 90+% of the 'most infected', symptomatic or not, appear to be identified.

@MarchingFrogs :) thanks. That is a concern, especially if you have just caught it and you get tested and your negative. The case numbers at uni have gone down significantly, so I just hope they stay low come January.

@lancaster parents. DD emailed me the email last night from the VC at Lancaster uni. Hes sent an email to all students ''We are now working with public health officials, NHS and government to put in place the arrangements, and we will be providing you with all you need to know to plan your return home if you wish to. We are also planning working with them to agree a testing programme for students, located on campus, and more details on that will follow''.... he then goes on to say ''^We will be in touch with specific details next week, but I want to reassure you that we will do all we can to help you with your plans for the end of term.
Please also be aware that the University is set to return to a blended approach to education next term, featuring a mix of online and in-person tuition^.''

Did try to do the italics in the above post, but didn't work

@sammyjoanne thanks for that info. I learn more from this chat about Lancaster than from my ds!

@sammyjoanne, for the italics or bolding function to work, you have to avoid other symbols next to the or *. So the " next to the stopped it working. I only know this through trial and error! You also have to put fresh symbols for new paragraphs.

DS's term finishes on 4 December, so we think he will come home that weekend. However, I have learned to be more flexible about future plans than I was before the pandemic.

The frequency of communication has definitely dropped off compared to the start of term, which I'm taking as a good sign. I think his course fills a lot of his time.

There is also the small consideration of the possibility of the parental household being in a state of self isolation...

Looking at the Lancaster Uni Vivid stats, the positive tests have dropped to zero this week on campus, although still a few in private acc, and a few staff. Amazing to see the figures over the last six weeks in closeup, so many at beginning of term.
But still, statistically speaking, considering there are 15,000 students, a tiny number of infections. So many more probably asymptomatic or absorbed whilst self isolating in their flats. So one wonders if there is really is this massive pool of infected students about to cross contaminate the nation ?
Spoke to ds2, he is really well, and he says people meet for food, hot drinks outdoors and it is possible to socialise outside your household in this fashion, whilst observing the rules on sdng..the main thing is people are around, happy to chat ,cos it is the only way they can, and quite relaxed. His cooking doesn't seem to have progressed far, he said in awe that a flatmate had actually" cooked a real lasagne" from scratch..we had tried to train him in that, but the numerous stages had put him off , clearly, trying it out..
DH then suggested a family fave, sausage pasta, but now that I am thinking about it, the lack of proper sausages, the proper tinned tomato base as opposed to dolmio or ketchup, oh dear his version may prove a terrible let down..
No mention of academics, I can only hope that must be going alright.

Nettleskeins, DS's piece de resistence is sausage pasta. We've found that Loyd Grossman Tomato and Basil pasta sauce is the nicest jar. A bit pricey but enough for 2 meals, but definitely superior to Dolmio or ketchup...

Those Lloyd Grossman sauces are good. I often send DD2 back with a couple to have in the cupboard for emergencies.

We normally do Jamie Oliver 30 minute meal version. Millicent, that looks delicious, and I like carrots in my sauces, especially tuna pasta, but ds2 a bit picky except with junk food hmm

@MillicentMartha thats for the hint on that :) and nice pasta

@Ironoaks it is a good sign when they are not communicating as much :)
@Nettleskeins zero on the last week on halls, so thats great news.
DD was speaking to several people in other colleges at the time she was self isolating last month. During the time of its peak, one or two people would be tested positive, and anyone else who lived in that same flat that caught it a few days later would just reside themselves to the fact they had it too and didnt bother getting tested since they just knew they was positive also, and thus just completed the self isolation anyway with the rest of them. She does think the initial figures in October are a lot higher than what was recorded, and that its now run its course now at Lancaster campus accommodation.
Lancaster says there are 7000 spaces and this includes their chancellors wharf, and postgrads. If say around 3000 had it,( which is quite possible since a lot caught it and not reported it), plus coupled with the fact its January and not freshers week any more and exams so people will be knuckling down, I dont think there will be this huge wave like it was in September/October.
Glad DS though is enjoying mingling outside. DD is meeting her physics friend today with a sultans outside. Shes not adventurous with food, but did mention before lockdown someones mum brought in homemade macaroni cheese and she loved it; and she doesnt like pasta usually so shes going to get some for herself.

DD is planning ''Lancmas'' Christmas with housemates . They are going to get a tree and decorations and they are doing snowflakes on the windows etc. They also have some Christmas tunes on their playlist called ''Flat 126 fm'' They are doing chicken dinner with the trimmings (they said they cant afford turkey) and they have a secret santa. They are doing it on the 29th of November.

[quote specialted]@sammyjoanne thanks for that info. I learn more from this chat about Lancaster than from my ds! [/quote]
Yes thank you @sammyjoanne , me too! DD is now totally undercover - have NO idea what's going on at all......

@BCBG I'm the same too regarding getting more information from here than my DS. I don't seem to worry as much about him as there seems to be quite a few of us here with kids at Lancaster and can use this thread as a catch up

Another one here who gets the Lancaster information from here rather from DC , for which I’m very grateful.

One of the things DS1 took with him food wise was a packet of pasta. I believe the packet remains unopened.

Ha ha! LetUsPrey.

It’s funny how it goes. The year before us on MN had so many at UEA that they started their own thread! I’m glad we’re all still together, though.

Im just glad we can all come together on here and chat :) Lol let us prey, that does make me wonder if theres anything we have bought she hasnt used. I do know the cheese toastie maker we bought has got more use out of it from the other housemates than our DD.

I did text her and asked about her physics friend walk about/sultans last night, but hes gone into self isolation, as one of his friends has been tested for covid. So looks like its possibly still on campus.

Just posting because this thread dropped off my "I'm on" list.

I think students might be reluctant to get tested because they don't want to be the cause of their bubbles having to isolate when everybody is ready to go home - could cause a lot of friction. Although it is better to know you are negative before you travel, in some ways it would have been more realistic to allow students to ensure they observe social distancing rules and wear masks on their journeys home and get tested on return before they are allowed out at home.

Although it is better to know you are negative before you travel, in some ways it would have been more realistic to allow students to ensure they observe social distancing rules and wear masks on their journeys home and get tested on return before they are allowed out at home.

But if testing is not mandatory and travel is permitted (and, of course, staying overnight with those outside one's household - even if possibly under the condition of self isolation), then there is nothing to stop them just doing that? Unless the tiers go back to exactly where they were, when the tier 2 and 3 rules would mean not even meeting up, let alone staying overnight, with members of another household, of course.

The testing will not be mandatory and there will be nothing to stop them traveling without a test other than a desire to do the right thing and protect any vulnerable people at home. But testing will not be available once they get home, they will have to access it at university if they want to know.

Dgd now told she has to leave between December 2nd and 9th. Testing not mandatory but she going to try and get one to make sure.