New staff wellbeing hub

A new staff wellbeing hub has been launched to provide colleagues with the resources to help them look after their own physical and mental wellbeing, and that of others.

In these challenging times, our mental health – while always important - is likely to be of particular significance to us now.

To support staff, the new online wellbeing hub will offer a range of self-directed resources which colleagues can access at a time and place that suits them. This will support our patterns of flexible working and other initiatives which the University is developing.

Additional guidance for researchers and staff in close contact roles

We have provided updated guidance documents for researchers working in laboratories and other roles at the University which involve close contact work.

You can read more about the guidance, which builds on existing office and general teaching space guidance, and who it applies to on the Health and Safety Covid-19 resources pages under “guidance for specific activities”.

Covid-19 Dashboard – new information

We will now be providing additional information in our daily figures for the latest Covid-19 cases - both on and off campus - on our updated dashboard.

We will publish the latest figures on weekday afternoons and then provide data on a Monday for the weekend.

The dashboard displays:

• the current number of open positive cases who are self-isolating
• the number of new cases reported (students and staff)
• the cumulative total of students and staff

You can access the dashboard from the navigation block on the Autumn 2020 pages. 

Return to campus webinars

This week, we held another webinar for all staff. This was part of a series of webinars for colleagues to hear about plans for our phased return to campus and the health and safety measures we have in place. A recording of these webinars and answers to unanswered questions are now available online.

If you do have an questions about our phased return to campus you can email covidquestions@sussex.ac.uk.

Student Brighton & Hove City Council Covid-19 webinar

This week, we held a webinar for students to ask questions to those responsible for public health in Brighton and Hove.

Dr Katie Cuming, Public Health Consultant, explained how the City Council is responding to Covid-19, and what they are doing to support and inform students on Covid-19 issues.

As this session was such a success, we hope to arrange similar events for staff in the coming weeks.

We will make the recordings available on our webpages soon.

Travel information

For colleagues commuting to campus we have updated our webpages with the latest travel information and advice.

There are updates relating to

• active travel options
• public transport
• driving and parking on campus
• overseas travel

In addition, some people have been asking if it is safe to travel between tiers (eg London and Brighton). Travel restrictions are not applied in Tier 2, and so there is no reason why people should not travel to campus from Tier 2 areas.

People working in education settings, should continue to go into work where necessary. If you need to use public transport, you should follow the Government’s safer travel guidance and going to work guidance.

Mobile testing unit on campus until the 25 October
The Covid-19 Mobile Testing Unit has been on campus since 16 October and will be here until the end of the day on 25 October. It is located in the Arts Carpark (no.7A).  This testing facility is for people who are displaying Covid-19 symptoms and tests can be booked through the national booking system.