COVID-19 update for colleagues
Published: 13 October 2021
An update on the colleague and student return to campus
As we reach the end of the first month of the new academic year, we would like to update colleagues on the latest progress from the University’s COVID recovery programme and the student and staff return to campus.
So far, we have no concerns over the number of reported cases following the return of staff and students to classrooms and offices. While, as expected, the return of more staff and students to our campuses in September saw an increase in positive tests reported through the Helpdesk, this increase peaked in week three and has continued to fall since. We believe that our rate of positive tests has remained well below that seen in the wider Glasgow community.
This is in large part due to the hard work of all our colleagues and students who continue to adhere to government and University safety guidance, thank you for your diligence.
Key to the ongoing safety of our community is continuing asymptomatic, twice-weekly lateral flow COVID tests – you can read more about the reasons for this testing on the NHS Inform website. Lateral flow tests can be ordered online, accessed from pharmacies and collected from locations on our campuses.
Face coverings
Face coverings should also be worn on our campuses. In line with Scottish Government guidance, you must wear a face covering in the following circumstances:
- when moving around in buildings
- outside, in congested areas
- in libraries and study spaces
- in classrooms (including teaching labs)
- in offices and other workplace settings, where one metre distancing is not possible
There is more information on face coverings on our webpages and UofG branded face coverings are available to purchase from the University Gift Shop.
Ventilation
The Scottish Government recommends getting fresh air into indoor spaces to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
We have surveyed over 12,000 spaces to better understand ventilation across our campuses and put in place improvements where necessary. If the ventilation in the space in which you are working can be improved, please contact the UofG Estates Helpdesk on 0141 330 6000 to request assistance.
In rooms with mechanical ventilation, the systems have been set to maximise fresh air flow. In rooms without mechanical ventilation, we recommend maximising airflow by opening doors and windows, even partially to ensure a supply of fresh air.
To ensure the ongoing safety of our buildings, Estates are also conducting CO2 monitoring using building management systems and spot sampling. We have published more information about this, and other ventilation FAQs on our Coronavirus webpages.
First published: 13 October 2021