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Three of the UK’s largest universities have switched to online teaching due to the coronavirus outbreaks.
More than 1,000 students tested positive for COVID-19 at the University of Manchester (UM) since the fall term began last month.
The university has now teamed up with Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and the University of Sheffield to announce a shift to online learning to protect the health of students and staff.
It comes amid new calls for all universities to stop face-to-face teaching and for the government to “stop pretending” that campuses can control the spread of the virus.
Around 80 UK universities have so far reported at least 5,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus after the students return to class.
UM, which has 40,000 students and 12,500 employees, has reported 1,041 positive cases in students since September 21. Another 20 employees have also been confirmed to have the virus. The overall figure in MMU is understood to be more than 500 positive cases.
the Manchester the colleges said both would increase the level of online learning for most programs through October 30. This would be reviewed on October 23.
The University of Sheffield, where nearly 500 students and staff have tested positive since the start of the quarter, said in-person teaching would be suspended as of Friday but resume on October 19.
The move comes amid a surge in cases in parts of England, with the latest weekly infection figures showing Manchester’s rate has soared, with 3,105 new cases recorded in the seven days to October 3. It is the equivalent of 561.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
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Students with a sign in the window of their accommodation in Manchester.
The University and College Union (UCU) has welcomed the move by Manchester universities, but said the virus outbreaks could have been prevented if the decision had been made earlier.
Martyn Moss, UCU Northwest Regional Officer, said: “It is clear that the government must stop pretending that college campuses are well prepared for this crisis and tell all universities to stop teaching in person to control the spread of the virus. “.
Meanwhile, staff at the coronavirus-stricken University of Northumbria have called on Chancellor Andrew Wathey to resign, as UCU members agreed to vote in favor of industrial action on health and safety grounds.
The university announced on Friday that 770 students had tested positive for COVID-19, including 78 who were symptomatic.
On Tuesday, the UK reported 14,542 other coronavirus cases – nearly 2,000 more than the day before – while hospital admissions in England peaked at four months.
A further 76 deaths related to the virus were also reported, bringing the total to 42,445.
