Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a third national lockdown for England beginning Wednesday, January 6, with schools and colleges closed to all but a few.
University students are ordered to “remain where they are wherever possible” on the official UK government website. Most students will be learning remotely until at least February half term.
“Our hospitals are under more pressure from covid than at any time since the start of the pandemic,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister hopes that by the middle of February, 14 million people will have had the first dose of the vaccine.
Johnson warned that the coming weeks will be the “hardest yet” as cases continue to rise.
University students quickly picked up on how the prime minister failed to mention them in his announcement. #Universities was the top trend on Twitter in the UK with students expressing outrage.
KU student, Sumayyah Idris said: “I was really surprised that university students weren’t addressed in the announcement tonight. There was no mention as to what we can and cannot do, this isn’t helpful to those students living out or needing closure. I’m glad the university responded quickly on this matter.”
Tier 4 restrictions that were implemented in most parts of England were deemed insufficient as cases of covid-19 and the number of hospital patients continue to rise.
Kingston University’s registrar, Keith Brennan, sent an email to all KU students regarding the national lockdown. The email outlined what each faculty can expect and pointed to further help.
Another KU student, Chloe Hyde said: “The next six weeks will definitely test us students, but I hope that with the university’s support we’ll be able to cope better.”
The same message from March 2020 was echoed in the recent announcement: “Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives”.
You can find more information on covid-19 from Kingston University here.
Shaunelle Harrydass-Clark
Emma Farr
Balsam Maki