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More than 1,000 students in Scotland are self-isolating after Covid-19 cases were identified in student accommodation in Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen.
So what do students need to know about life on campus in the days of the coronavirus? We have put together the answers to some key questions.
I can leave?
The heads of all of Scotland’s universities and the Scottish government have agreed on some new and strict rules for students. So for now, students can’t socialize with anyone outside their home.
That means there will be no parties, no visits to the pub, restaurants or any other hospitality venue this weekend.
Universities will increase staff presence to enforce rules and provide wellness advice and assistance and will ask private student housing providers to do the same.
Scotland’s police are also asked to monitor student behavior off campus and a strict “yellow card / red card” system will be put in place to deal with offenses that put students and others at risk.
And all students must download the Protect Scotland app.
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More staff will be deployed to provide support and also ensure compliance with the new rules
Can you go home on the weekends?
Students who have left their family homes are considered to have formed new homes with those with whom they now live.
That means they cannot go home, as households in Scotland cannot blend into households.
These measurements will be reviewed every three weeks.
There was some confusion about this after the Scottish government initially confirmed to the BBC Scotland that students who had moved should not return to their family homes.
Then the national clinical director, Professor Jason Leitch, said that students in the hallways could go home for the weekend as long as they are not self-isolating and have no Covid symptoms.
But he has since said that they cannot return home because they are now in separate homes. He tweeted: “The law is clear: You can’t meet inside with another family, not even Mom and Dad. Sorry.”
There are exceptions, for example for providing care to someone in need and for extended homes.
How do you isolate yourself in college?
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It is essential that anyone with Covid-19 symptoms immediately isolate themselves and use the NHS website to book a test.
The whole household needs to isolate itself, even if only one person has symptoms. This means staying home and not attending classes or social gatherings.
If the test is negative, self-isolation may end for everyone. If the test is positive, Test and Protect will contact you.
Public health officials say it is “vital” that self-isolates do so for a full 14 days.
You must stay in your accommodation and not go out for any reason, not attend classes or even buy essentials such as food.
Ask your non-isolating friends to do your shopping, or arrange to have it delivered to your door.
During this period, you should avoid close contact with other people you live with. Stay 2 m away from everyone.
Keep the number of people in shared areas to an absolute minimum.
Don’t share towels or clothes. Sleep alone. Clean shared toilets, bathrooms, and kitchens every time you’ve used them.
Keep washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water.
And remember, your college or university can provide advice and support.
How is a test done?
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Students with symptoms of coronavirus can book a test through the NHS.
Those who have their own car can go to a test drive center.
But trail test centers are also being established in some areas.
The walk-in testing centers in Glasgow city center and St Andrews are now open.
A walk-in test site in Aberdeen opened on Thursday and a center in Edinburgh will open on Friday.
Additional sites will open in Glasgow on October 2 and Stirling on October 5, and new sites are being identified in Dundee.
Mobile test centers have also been used at Abertay University and the Murano St student village in Glasgow.
The incident management team managing the outbreak at Parker House in Dundee has decided to test all residents and will provide home testing kits to all students in the accommodation.
Why are the university residences open? How many students live there?
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Some students living in the corridors of Cairncross in Glasgow have been told to isolate themselves
Universities Scotland says that allowing student accommodation to open means that students can attend the university of their choice.
Some students live far from their university and cannot travel from one place to another.
Nearly 49,000 new students secured places at Scottish universities this fall, according to UCAS.
More than half of them are likely to be in university residences, with at least 27,000 places available nationwide.
The largest number of students in university accommodation is in Edinburgh and Glasgow, with an estimated 10,000 students living in hallways in the capital.
There is also a sizeable student population in Aberdeen, Dundee, Paisley, Stirling and St Andrews, which alone have 4,000 places available in university-run accommodation.
Are the universities teaching face-to-face classes?
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At many universities and colleges, a blended approach is being taken, so teaching will take place both online and in person.
Universities Scotland said universities “are offering campus experience for students where it is safe and practical to do so and is key to their learning.”
This will be limited to small groups of seminars, laboratory and practical work, where this in-person learning can take place within the guidelines.
Can students use shared facilities, such as gyms and libraries?
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Like similar off-campus facilities, libraries, cafes and gyms are open, but public health measures are in place to try to stop the spread of the virus.
For example, there are social distancing measures. In many circumstances, the capacity has been greatly reduced.
Edinburgh Napier University said its campus capacity has been reduced to 30% of normal capacity.
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