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Many Singaporeans studying in Britain are choosing to bend over and wait for it to pass despite a new wave of Covid-19 sweeping across the country, including at more than 30 universities, and few are considering returning home.
According to British media, thousands of students have been in self-isolation since the new school term began last month, and at least 33 universities were reported to have confirmed Covid-19 cases amid a second wave in the country.
They include the University of Aberdeen, Durham University, Manchester Metropolitan University, and the University of Glasgow.
Teresa Yong, 22, a third-year student at the University of Manchester, which is just 500 meters from Manchester Metropolitan University, said the news makes her “a little worried about attending face-to-face classes now.”
“But in terms of long-term considerations, I’m not that concerned because my university is quite prepared to move everything online, as well as cracking down on anyone who violates social distancing rules on school grounds,” said Ms. Yong, who is reading social anthropology. She returned to Manchester at the end of August.
Last month, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said college students might have to stay on campus over the Christmas break to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, if there were widespread problems with outbreaks on campuses.
Ms Yong said that despite this, she is still choosing to stay in Manchester. “The plan is to stay, unless the students are asked to evacuate the country.”
She and most of her friends from Singapore “had not planned to return for Christmas in the first place due to the uncertainties of flying and having to self-quarantine in Singapore,” she added.
Travelers from Singapore were added to the UK travel broker list last month and do not have to go into quarantine if they have not been to or transited other non-exempt countries in the 14 days prior to arrival.
Second-year medical student Wong E-Shuen, who is back at the University of Aberdeen, said she is supposed to attend a series of clinical sessions on campus, as well as room placements, over which the university would provide more information in time. “But we will wear personal protective equipment during these sessions, so I’m not worried,” said the 20-year-old.
Most lectures and tutorials are conducted online, while patient-partner meetings for medical students are also conducted via phone calls and virtually, he added.
Ms. Wong said she has no plans to go home yet, although “cases seem to be increasing.”
“I was very aware of the situation before I came,” he said.
You’ve been planning your study hours for lectures and online tutorials, cooking your meals in your apartment, and using home delivery for groceries and other necessities to avoid going to the stores too often.
Glasgow University student Ng Weihan returned to Singapore in March.
The sophomore has made no plans to travel back to Glasgow because she “feels it is not safe to go back from now on.”
Ms Ng, 19, who is reading computer science and music, said she is glad she prevented the wave of infections at her school and has heard that some of her schoolmates had to isolate themselves.
But she said remote learning has its challenges, adding that her computer science classes are easier to manage online, although her music modules can be challenging.
“Online learning is difficult, especially with the time difference, but I am coping well.”
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