Moving courses online “doesn’t seem imminent”, as cases of COVID-19 stays low
Written by Toby Cray
The University of Leicester has reported an average of 12 new cases a day over the last week, which is relatively small compared to other universities. As cases surge nationally, the prospect of moving courses completely online is becoming a realistic possibility.
Professor Graham Wynn, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, responded to this at a Microsoft Teams Q&A on Friday afternoon by stating: “At the moment it doesn’t seem imminent from the number of cases we have had, but we can never rule it out and the situation could change quickly.”
This comes as Oadby has one of the highest rates of coronavirus infections in the country with a 7-day rolling average of 433.5 new cases per 100,000 people, up to the 11th October.
The university has a screening programme, which allows any student or staff member with no symptoms to get tested, helping to identify new cases quickly.
Geoff Green, Registrar & Secretary said: “Over the last seven days we’ve had an average of 12 new cases a day across the university staff and student population, so that’s a relatively small number. We have had only one outbreak, which is defined as two connected cases or more, and that was a very small outbreak of three or four cases”.
Alex Hunt, a second-year student reacted to the possibility of moving online by stating: “I would be disappointed, because the few bits I do in university now are the only socialising I do outside of my bubble and you get a better teaching experience in person.”
But the situation depends on the national and regional picture, as Mr Wynn states: “What we can’t answer is the likelihood of shifting entirely online because that decision is taken in collaboration with the director of public health.”
For more information regarding the university in relation to COVID-19, visit: https://le.ac.uk/coronavirus
Toby Cray is a second-year journalism student at the University of Leicester. You can find him on Instagram here: @toby5.c
Featured Photo from @uniofleicester on Twitter.com
