The Government announced on Wednesday 8 December, that Plan B restrictions will be introduced in response to the rise in cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant. Please read what this means for our staff community at Sussex.

Working from home
The Government is advising that from Monday 13 December, staff who are not required to work on campus should work from home, where this is possible to do so.

Those staff who are required to work on campus, such as those involved in research, teaching and other student facing roles should continue to do so, as we keep our buildings, residences and services on campus open. The majority of teaching this term will finish on Friday 10 December.

Please read our ITS guidance to support you with effective remote working, helping you to connect, save and stay secure.

Face coverings
We are reminding all staff and students of this update to the regulations.

It remains a legal requirement to wear face coverings in shops (as announced by the Prime Minister on Saturday 27 November) and on public transport, unless exempt.

In addition, mandatory face coverings will be introduced in most public venues.

We expect all students and staff to wear face coverings, unless exempt, in crowded and enclosed spaces on campus - including in all teaching spaces and the Library - and to follow the instructions indicated by signage. This signage is very visible across the campus. One exemption to this is whilst eating and drinking in bars and cafes.

In addition to teaching spaces, face coverings need to be worn on the following other areas on campus:

• The Library (at all times for students, even when sitting at a desk. Staff are permitted to remove their masks once seated at their desks)
• Shops
• Post office
• Pharmacy
• Takeaways
• Community centres
• Places of worship (Meeting House)
• Public transport

We are reminding all students of this.

Vaccination status
Vaccine passports will now be required for larger unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people.

Vaccination is critical in helping to minimise transmission against this new variant and we strongly advise all to consider vaccinations and booster jabs.

Walk-in vaccination sessions are taking place in the local area, including booster clinics. You don’t need an appointment, and you can simply turn up to receive your vaccination. See the Keep Sussex Safe pages for more information. The Government has confirmed this will be reduced to a three-month gap between vaccinations.

Please consider updating your vaccination status on the MyView portal, as this is helpful for planning purposes. It is your choice whether you supply this information to the University, and you can update or remove this data at any time.

Testing and isolation
The Government guidance is also updated with regards to isolating if you have been in close contact with an Omicron case, which you can read here.

You will be informed by NHS track and trace if you are suspected to have been in contact with a suspected Omicron case.

Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should isolate and get a PCR test immediately.

All staff should continue to get twice-weekly Covid-19 tests using the home testing kits that can be ordered from the www.gov.uk website. Staff and students can also collect home testing kits from several campus locations.

The Mobile Testing Unit (MTU) remains on campus, providing PCR testing to those with symptoms from 10am – 4pm. This is operated by Brighton and Hove City Council.
 
Travel restrictions
There are currently no restrictions on student movement across England nor is there any travel window.

If you are travelling from abroad, you are also now required to get a PCR test and self-isolate until you get a negative test result. Please see the Government website for further updates.
 
Reporting
A reminder to please help keep our community safe and use our Covid-19 reporting form to submit a report if you need to self-isolate due to:

• Contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 - if you are not fully vaccinated with a vaccine recognised in the UK, or if you are otherwise advised to isolate by NHS Test and Trace due to close contact with a positive case.
• Having Covid-19 symptoms
• Being positive with Covid-19
• Needing to self-isolate due to travel

Keeping you updated
We will continue to keep you up to date on measures to ensure a Covid-safe campus.