Coronavirus has hit Kingston University and shows no signs of slowing down, as the silent killer has taken its toll on students and lecturers alike.
Strains ‘Stratus’ and ‘Nimbus’ have been infecting thousands of the UK population per day, deemed highly transmittable which travels faster than the earlier Covid-19.
Familiar symptoms like persistent fatigue, severe sore throats, a mild cough, nasal problems and muscle aches are announcing their return in these new variations.
Individual affected by the new strain, journalism lecturer Emma Day said: “It felt like a cold that I just couldn’t shake. I felt horrendous for ten days straight.”
During the pandemic, Kingston University set up clinics, internship programmes and production of protective equipment which we may see again in the future.
The university this year implemented a new attendance policy, meaning all courses are designed with attendance as a key learning factor for students and align with assessment strategies put in place.
Edward G Fleming, who fell victim to the new strain said: “I felt like I was dying, but I had to go in because I get an email saying they (Kingston University) are watching my attendance if I’m ill.”
In cases of international students, it is important that they meet engagement and attendance requirements set by both UK visas and immigration (UKVI) and Kingston University.
Emma said: “I’ve had at least one student a class per email and say they feel terrible.”
With free Covid booster criteria being tightened this year, only people aged 75 and older qualify for a free booster, along with young people with weakened immune systems.
Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist told the BBC: “Coronavirus is under control at the moment, but we’ve got to keep an eye on it,” along with a warning that the UK will most certainly see another pandemic at some point in the future.
After the pandemic in 2020, a Covid inquiry was put in place to assess UK’s response to and the impact of Covid 19 after the first report said there were flawed preparations that caused irreversible damage.
