Updated Covid-19 guidance

The Government has introduced Plan B in response to cases of the Omicron Coronavirus variant. This includes wearing face coverings in most public spaces and working from home if you are not required to work on campus.

If you are coming onto campus you must take one self-test at home either the evening or morning before returning in January, then continue to test twice weekly at home.

Recent updates to Government Covid-19 guidance relating to travel:

• Pre-departure testing removed for vaccinated travellers
  
  
• How to quarantine at home after international travel
  including added information on changes to the rules for fully vaccinated people arriving in England from 4am 7 January 2022
  
  
• Coronavirus testing before you travel to England
  including changes to rules for fully vaccinated people travelling to England from 4am 7 January 2022
  
  
• Travel to England from another country during Coronavirus
  including changes to rules for fully vaccinated people travelling to England from 4am 7 January 2022

How long to self-isolate if you test positive

The most recent Government guidance recommends that if you test positive, your self-isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day you had the test, if you do not have symptoms) and the next 10 full days.

If you get symptoms while you're self-isolating, the 10 days restarts from the day after your symptoms started.

You can stop self-isolating after 7 days if you do a rapid lateral flow test on days 6 and 7 of your self-isolation period and:

• both tests are negative

• you did both tests at least 24 hours apart

• you do not have a high temperature

If you do a rapid lateral flow test on day 6 and test positive, wait 24 hours before you do the next test.

If you stop self-isolating on or after day 7, it's important that you take steps to reduce the chance of passing COVID-19 to others e.g. work from home if you can; wear a face covering in shops, on public transport and when it's hard to stay away from other people – particularly indoors

You can stop self-isolating after the 10 days if either:

• you do not have any symptoms

• you just have a cough or changes to your sense of smell or taste – these can last for weeks after the infection has gone

If you have a high temperature after the 10 days, or are feeling unwell, keep self-isolating and seek medical advice.

What to do following close contact with someone on campus who tests positive for Covid-19

If you have had close contact with someone who tests positive for Covid-19, please read the updated Government guidance on when to self-isolate and what to do. 

Public Health will contact individuals who have contracted the Omicron variant and may issue additional information about isolation or testing in these cases.

The University will continue to use its own track and trace system*, but we also recommend staff and students use the NHS Test and Trace app as this will detect clusters of infection and contact those affected. You should stay away from work until you get your negative PCR test result to ensure we minimise Covid infection rates across campus. See NHS self-isolation rules.

*The University’s own track and trace system requires staff and students to fill out the Covid-19 reporting form if you need to self-isolate due to:

• testing positive for Covid-19
• having Covid-19 symptoms
• being identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19, if you are not fully vaccinated
• arriving in the UK from overseas

Updating your vaccination status

Thank-you to those of you who have updated your vaccination status by logging in to the MyView system. Please take the time to make the University aware if you have received your booster.

With Covid-19 case numbers on the increase, this is one of the best ways we can help keep each other safe at Sussex. It helps the University with its business continuity planning and we also share the aggregated data with the local Public Health team to support outbreak planning. This means that by updating your vaccination status you’re helping our wider community too. Find out more about how your vaccination status information is managed.

Collecting test kits on campus

Lateral Flow test kits remain available for collection from 17 locations across campus.

Hosting events

The Health and Safety Office has published guidance for staff hosting events, including up-to-date information on Covid-19 requirements.

Local walk-in booster clinics

Walk-in vaccination sessions are taking place in the local area. Please check the details of the service if you are looking for your booster. See the Keep Sussex Safe pages for more information.

Your wellbeing

The University’s Employee Assistance Programme partners, Health Assured, offer a comprehensive service for Sussex staff and an evidence-based app providing tools and support to improve mental wellbeing. Their confidential helpline provides urgent support to staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 0800 316 9337.

Please take some time to consider the range of webinars hosted by Health Assured (using access code: worklife and password: worklife). The 'Coping with change' session, offering practical measures we can put in place to help us cope with change in our lives, may be of particular interest at this time.

Working under the current circumstances can throw up challenges as Covid-19 continues to influence our lives, so please remember that University's wellbeing hub offers many tools and resources to look after your mental, physical and financial wellbeing.

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