KU students will have seven-day window to go home for Christmas

Students will have a seven-day window where they can go home in time for Christmas, the government announced on Wednesday.

The government has designated December 3 to December 9, as a ‘student travel window’, following on from the lockdown in England which will end on December 2.

Kingston University, like all universities across the country, has been instructed to work together with other institutions so that they can stagger the departure date of students and avoid everyone travelling at the same time.

The government will be working closely with universities as it also wants to launch a mass testing scheme.

The scheme will enable students to get tested before they go back for the Christmas break, meaning they can see family and friends and minimise the risk of spreading the infection.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said: “Students must follow the guidelines to protect their families and the communities they return to.” 

The hope is that the ‘travel window’ combined with mass testing will lessen the chance of transmission between families and communities up and down the country.

Universities Minister Michelle Donelan said: “We have worked really hard to find a way to  do this for students while limiting the risk of transmission.  Now it is vital they follow these measures to protect their families and communities.”

Students travelling home have been instructed by the government to follow the strict protocols in place concerning the current national lockdown and follow the guidance from their university.

Kingston University student Sam Gurr said: “I think its slightly taking the mick, it seems like further examples of the government controlling where and when you can go to places. But it is a better alternative than trying to keep students at uni over Christmas.”

Check MyKingston for the latest update from the university.