Covid-19 Response
Keeping our community safe
- Students are advised to take an LFT before leaving Durham for the winter break and to continue to test regularly once they reach their destination.
- Continue to report Covid-19 symptoms, positive test results and periods of self-isolation over the winter break using our online form.
- Following a recent review of our Covid-controls, University Executive Committee (UEC) has agreed that all existing measures will remain in place when Epiphany term starts on Monday 10 January 2022. Read our latest staff and student communications to find out more.
Last updated: 03/12/2021 (Created: June 2021)
All staff and postgraduate research students: Covid-19 Update - Friday 3 December 2021
All undergraduate and postgraduate taught students: Covid-19 Update - Friday 3 December 2021
All staff and postgraduate research students: Covid-19 Update - Monday 29 November 2021
All undergraduate and postgraduate taught students: Covid-19 Update - Monday 29 November 2021
Archived communications (Pre-October 2021)
Clean as we go
To minimise the risk of infection, we clean as we go, paying particular attention to regularly touched surfaces including:
- Desks and surfaces
- Door handles
- Printer touchpads
- Computer mice
- Keyboards
- Lift buttons
Respect each other’s space
In light of the robust Risk Assessment approach that has been undertaken across the institution, our internal spaces will continue to operate within our Covid-secure capacities and some one-way systems will remain in place to aid flow through buildings.
Our Covid-secure capacities are based on ventilation and air quality, and enable us to be considerate of everyone in our community and respect each other’s space.
Visit gov.uk for more information on limiting close contact with others.
Sanitise our hands
We wash our hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day. Hand sanitisation stations are available on campus for staff, students and visitors.
For more guidance on effective hand sanitisation, visit gov.uk.
Test regularly
We test twice weekly to help minimise Covid-19 transmission within our University community. Even if you’re fully vaccinated, there’s still a chance you can transmit the virus.
Testing at University facilities is free, quick and easy and, you will get your results via email within two hours.
Visit our Lateral Flow Testing web pages for more information and to book your next test.
Ventilate our spaces
We have procedures in place to assess ventilation levels in internal spaces on campus. All centrally bookable teaching spaces have been assessed in order to establish Covid-secure room capacities.
We have installed Air Quality Monitors (AQM) in rooms with natural ventilation to enable colleagues to monitor CO2 levels to provide suitable air quality and thermal comfort as far as is possible. Portable AQMs have also been made available.
Read our guidance on using Air Quality Monitors.
Wear our face coverings
To ensure that we are able to deliver a safe teaching, learning, research and work environment, and maximise the amount of on-campus interaction, our staff, students and visitors wear face coverings if they can.
This includes when moving around in buildings and during face-to-face teaching, with the exception of where reasonable adjustments are required to ensure the wellbeing and inclusion of all.
Our face coverings policy provides details of alternative measures available to support those who may be impacted by others wearing face coverings, for example, those who rely on lip-reading.
Read our face coverings policy for more information.
Covid-19 Incident Control Centre
The Covid-19 Incident Control Centre (ICC) is operating 8am-6pm Monday to Friday and 9am-5pm Saturday and Sunday.
The ICC can be contacted in the event of an incident by email or on 0191 334 0000. Outside of these hours, the telephone will be answered by Security.
To report a Covid-19 breach, call 101 to speak to the local police.