Covid at unis this term

bestbefore · 2021-10-22T07:35:35+00:00

How's it looking at your DCs uni this term? I've not heard about huge case numbers - but have about cases in schools..anyone got any insight? I'm just feeling hopeful that perhaps the vaccine is doing its job because they are all certainly partying despite not having large lectures f2f!

beeswain · 22/10/2021 08:53

I'm not sure about Covid but ds and many other people he knows have had the most horrible 'freshers flu' - he's not a fresher but a second year returner. He has barely left his room for 2 weeks! Repeated LFT's and PCRs coming back negative.

ClerkMaxwell · 22/10/2021 09:37

Much less than last year at DDs uni (Edinburgh). They publish figures. Seven day average is 3 new cases (Week 5 of teaching) decrease from last week. They have a testing trial running which my DD joined at beginning of September so most testing twice per week. Freshers flu and midterms helping to keep the covid numbers down I suspect.

Blubells · 22/10/2021 09:47

Much lower numbers this year. I think because lots had Covid last year, they've got some immunity.

Needmoresleep · 22/10/2021 09:54

The freshers flu is horrible. I picked it up when taking DD back and was very ill for two weeks. I assume not helped by not catching coughs and colds for the past 18 months. DD is a medical student so has to test regularly. Lots of her peers have been ill but, in contrast to recent terms, it is freshers flu rather than Covid.

Eve · 22/10/2021 09:55

lots had freshers flu ( including my DS - no surprise as he was out every night for about 2 weeks!)

data published every week - 12K tested this week , 29 cases.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 22/10/2021 09:56

@beeswain

I'm not sure about Covid but ds and many other people he knows have had the most horrible 'freshers flu' - he's not a fresher but a second year returner. He has barely left his room for 2 weeks! Repeated LFT's and PCRs coming back negative.

My ds had covid then a week after finishing his 10 days isolation got the most awful Freshers Flu and it's knocked him for six,his whole house had it.

Chilldonaldchill · 22/10/2021 09:57

I think they're almost all recently vaccinated which has really helped. Dd's heard of no one in her college (so trading very regularly obviously) and one person in a neighbouring college. She is having F2f lectures and tutorials etc.
I'm a doctor so know the data where we live (a small snapshot admittedly). 70% of our cases are children under 16. Our ITUs are unfortunately fairly full but 95% of those and local deaths are unvaccinated (and I understand the vaccinated deaths locally have been the very elderly where death was not entirely unexpected).
The numbers are bad (and schools are creating the brunt of it) but the level of illness is much better than previously.
Luckily uni students were very prompt (on the whole) to get vaccinated.

Chilldonaldchill · 22/10/2021 09:58

Sorry should be "all testing very regularly" not "so trading".

Chilldonaldchill · 22/10/2021 09:59

Also schools are "bearing" the brunt of it. Need to learn to read my posts!

Original poster

bestbefore · 22/10/2021 10:43

Interesting...lets hope the roll out of the vaccine for teens will help stop it in schools (well secondary at least) then...

OP posts:

Howshouldibehave · 22/10/2021 10:44

Haven’t heard of much covid but every one of DC’s friends and my own friends DC have been struck down with hideous freshers flu!

Original poster

bestbefore · 22/10/2021 16:47

Thing is freshers flu is not new is it? It's always been around when students have been able to party together at the start of the year. I think it's really encouraging there's little covid in students.

OP posts:

Fujimora · 22/10/2021 17:00

DS is double vaccinated and has been suffering from freshers flu - despite the fact he is not a fresher. Many of his friends are in the same boat.
He did say that a lot of students have not been testing regularly for Covid as they do not want to do the compulsory isolation.
So I guess there is a real question as to how much of the “freshers flu” is actually Covid.

VanCleefArpels · 22/10/2021 18:00

They’ve all had it if not last year then as a result of going to summer festivals! Add to that high take up of vaccines in that age group and they are - happily- having a fairly normal experience this term, including the extra curricular activities that were not possible last year. As others have said though they are getting horrible colds/ tonsillitis etc

JemimaMuddledUp · 22/10/2021 18:07

My DS is in his first year and cases have been very low at his university (like others they publish their data online). Much lower in fact than the local area - to the point that the university are emailing students telling them to be careful when out and about as community cases are so high! Of course the locals still like to blame the students....

DS doesn't know anyone who has tested positive so far. They're all doing LFTs twice a week.

pourmeanotherglass · 22/10/2021 18:58

DD and friends at Warwick all had freshers flu. Some ( but not all) of them did tests which came back negative.
A high % are double vaccinated.
They have been clubbing many times but are not allowed face to face lectures yet.

Chilldonaldchill · 22/10/2021 20:13

DD has to show her tests to the college twice a week. I think that's really good that they're all definitely doing them! They are randomly selected for PCRs too.

Original poster

bestbefore · 22/10/2021 20:30

@VanCleefArpels

They’ve all had it if not last year then as a result of going to summer festivals! Add to that high take up of vaccines in that age group and they are - happily- having a fairly normal experience this term, including the extra curricular activities that were not possible last year. As others have said though they are getting horrible colds/ tonsillitis etc

My dd hasn't had it! Touch wood...she's a fresher this year & is double vaccinated. I am trying to persuade her to have a flu jab now!

OP posts:

irregularegular · 22/10/2021 20:37

Oxford Uni testing service only reporting 12 positive PCRs last week. A positivity rate of 2.9% Very very low basically. Much much lower than last year. Though we are not far into term yet...

WTFCanIDoAboutThis · 22/10/2021 21:04

I've just got back from visiting my god daughter at Manchester Uni. No one is wearing masks and there is zero social distancing. We ate out, went to the pub and went to a gig. She's a 3rd year and says that all her friends have already had it. I've done a LTF every day this week and so far so good. I feel like I dodged a bullet (fully vaccinated).

boys3 · 22/10/2021 23:14

There are certainly some very welcome differences to last year. Whilst this is for the overall population in an area, these are comparisons for a couple of areas in Nottingham.

boys3 · 22/10/2021 23:19

Manchester, Leeds and Salford areas

Peridot1 · 22/10/2021 23:19

DS is double jabbed and contracted Covid after 3 days back for his second year. He happened to come me home for the first weekend (we are 40 mins away) and started symptoms while here. Tested positive with a PCR test.

He was very miserable for over a week. Like a really bad cough and cold.

Some others in his house also tested positive but he was the most ill I think.

boys3 · 22/10/2021 23:20

Lancaster and Lincoln

RampantIvy · 22/10/2021 23:39

Where do you get this data from @boys3 please?