Health | University of Oxford

You will not need to isolate if the tests remain negative. If you test positive in any of your LFD tests, or develop symptoms of COVID-19, ... Skiptomaincontent HomeCoronavirusHealthinformation SixstepstostayCOVID-safe HealthLastreviewed22December2021*ThispagewillnotberegularlyupdatedduringtheUniversityFixedClosurePeriodbetweenThursday23December2021andMonday3January2022inclusive. FinalarrangementsforHilarytermwillbeconfirmedandcommunicatedfromTuesday4January.*ImplicationsofincreasingCOVID-19casesand‘PlanB’ontheUniversityandcollegesTherehasbeenasignificantriseinthenumberofCOVID-19casesattheUniversityinrecentweeks,includingconfirmedcasesoftheomicronvariant.Inaddition,thegovernmenthasconfirmedthatitwillmoveto‘PlanB’ofitsCOVID-19restrictions.Inlightofthesedevelopments,theUniversityhasintroducedanumberofadditionalmeasures.GiventhehighlevelofcasesattheUniversity,includingcasesofOmicron,someofthesegobeyondgovernmentguidance. Theseinclude:HealthmeasuresFacecoveringsareessentialforreducingthespreadofCOVID-19 andshouldbewornbyallstaffandstudentsinallUniversitybuildings. Theyaremandatedinlibrariesaswellasdepartmentalstudyspaces(unlessindividualsareexempt). Socialdistancingisnotformallyrequired.However,staffandstudentsareexpectedtorespecteachother’sspace,usingtheexperienceofthelasttwoyears.  ChristmaspartiesUniversityChristmaspartiesandothersocialgatheringsshouldnolongertakeplace,andshouldbecancelledwithimmediateeffect,regardlessoftheirsize.ThisincludespartiesinUniversitybuildings,andelsewherewheretheeventorgatheringislinkedtoworkingorstudyingattheUniversity. Thesemeasureswillbeinplaceuntilfurthernotice.ArrangementsforHilarytermarebeingplannedandwillbecommunicatedwhenavailable. **UPDATED15December2021**Whattodoifyou’reaCOVID-19contactFromTuesday14December,ifyouhavebeenfullyvaccinatedwithanapprovedCOVID-19vaccine(bothdosesofatwo-dosevaccineoronedoseofasingle-dosevaccine)andidentifiedasacontactofsomeonewithCOVID-19,youdonothavetoself-isolate.Instead,youshouldtakealateralflowtest(LFD)everydayforsevendays(oruntil10dayssinceyourlastcontactwiththepersonwhotestedpositiveforCOVID-19ifthisisearlier).ThisruleapplieswhetherthecaseisOmicronoranyothervariant.Youwillnotneedtoisolateifthetestsremainnegative. IfyoutestpositiveinanyofyourLFDtests,ordevelopsymptomsofCOVID-19,youmustself-isolateimmediatelyandtakeaconfirmatoryPCRtest.YoumayendyourisolationifyourPCRtestisnegativeandshouldcontinuetheLFDs.IfthePCRispositive,youmustcontinuetoself-isolateandfollowgovernmentguidance.Inallcasesyoushould reportLFDresultstotheEarlyAlertService and totheNHS,andyoumust reportexternalPCRteststotheEarlyAlertService.Pleasebeawarethatifyouwerealreadypartwaythroughisolatingasacontactwhentherulechangewasintroduced,youarefreedfromthisobligationbut arestronglyadvisedto performLFDsdailyuntilwhenyourisolationperiodwouldotherwisehaveended.Youshould reporttheresultsofyourteststotheEarlyAlertServiceandtheNHSasproofthatyouhavecomplied. Readthedetailedgovernmentguidanceformoreinformation.**NEW15December2021** BoostervaccinationsInlinewithgovernmentguidance,allstaffandstudentsareencouragedtobookaboosterdoseofaCOVID-19vaccinationassoonastheybecomeeligible.BoostersarenowavailableontheNHSforthoseaged18andover.Weareawareofsomecurrentoperationalchallengesrelatedtobookingboosters,andweareliaisingwithlocalauthoritiesaboutofferingawalk-invaccinationcentreinUniversitypremisesinthenewyear. Ourhealthcampaignincludesmaterialstoreinforcethesemessages;thelatestversionofthe healthcommunicationspack canbefoundonSharePoint(SSOrequired).**NEW15December2021** Staywellthiswinter:additionalhealthguidance Staywellthiswinter.Youractionsmatter.Coronavirusremainsaserioushealthrisk.Asweheadintothewintermonthsandspendmoretimeindoors,everyoneneedstotakeindividualresponsibilityforminimisingriskstoourcommunity. Wearafacecovering:FacecoveringsareessentialforreducingthespreadofCOVID-19andshouldbewornbyallstaffandstudentswhenindoors. Theyaremandatedinlibrariesanddepartmentalstudyspaces(unlessyouareexempt).  Letfreshairinindoors: keepingwindowsanddoorsopen increasesventilationandsignificantlyreducesthespreadofCOVID-19. Pleasekeepthemopen,particularlyinareaswhicharepoorlyventilated.InUniversitybuildings,itwillbeclearlyindicatedwhereadditionalventilationisrequired.Getyour boosterjab assoonasyou’reeligible,andgeta freeflujab ifyoucan. TestregularlyandgetaPCRtest and self-isolate ifrequired.Itisimportantthateveryoneisconsideratewhenworkingandstudyingonsiteandfollowshealthguidance.Evenifyoudon’tfeelatriskyourself,pleaserespectotherswhofeelmorevulnerable.Adheringtotheguidancewillalsostopthespreadoffluandotherrespiratoryinfections.Thisisparticularlyimportantthisyearbecausefewerpeoplewillhavebuiltupnaturalimmunityduringthepandemic;andbecauseresearchshowsthatthosewhogetfluandCOVID-19atthesametimearemorelikelytobecomeseriouslyill.TheUniversityhasupdateditsguidanceandnowexpectsallstaffandstudentstowearfacecoverings(unlessexempt)whenindoors.Pleasebeawarethattheycontinuetobemandatedinlibraries.  Seethefacecoveringsguidanceformoredetails.Socialdistancing isnotformallyrequired.However,staffandstudentsareexpectedtorespecteachother’sspace,usingtheexperienceofthelasttwoyears. Rememberthatsomepeoplemaywishtotakeamorecautiousapproach,eitherbecauseofconcernsfortheirownhealthorthatoffamilymembers,orbecauseofgeneralanxiety.Residualmitigationsmayberequiredinlesswell-ventilatedareasandcouldincludecontinueddistancingoruseoffacecoverings.Andyoushould washyourhandsregularlywithsoaporsanitiser. Allstaffandstudentscontinuetobestronglyadvisedtogetfullyvaccinated,andgetyourboosters,assoonaspossible–toprotectyourselfandothers–andtofollowthegovernment’slatestself-isolationrules. Thosewhoarefullyvaccinatedmaybenefitfromnolongerbeinglegallyrequiredtoself-isolatewhen identifiedasaclosecontactofapositiveCOVID-19case(seedetailsofwhoisexemptfromself-isolationonthegovernmentwebsite). InformationabouttheCOVID-19vaccinationandhowtobookappointments canbefoundontheNHSwebsite.Regularsymptom-freetesting continuestobestronglyencouragedforallstaffwhoareworkingonsiteandstudentswhilsttheyareinOxford.TheUniversity’sEarlyAlertServicecontinuestooperatePCRtestingforthosewhohavesymptomsorapositiveLFDresult,orwhohavebeenadvisedtotakeatestbyTestandTrace.IfyouhavesymptomsorgetapositiveLFDresult,youshouldself-isolateimmediatelyand bookaPCRtest.TheUniversity’sapproachisinformedbyOxford’sclinicalacademicsandlocalandnationalguidance.Wewillrespondtoanychangesinpublichealthrecommendationscausedbythevirusifandwhentheyoccur.AsaUniversitycommunity,alongwithwidersociety,itisclearthatwemustnowlearntolivewithCOVID-19.Althoughwehaveeffectivevaccinesandhighvaccinationrates,andotherpublichealthmeasuressuchasTestandTrace,weshouldnonethelessexpectsomecaseswithinour community.However,thelinkbetweeninfectionandhospitalisationhasbeenverysignificantlyweakenedsotheimpactofCOVID-19isdramaticallyreduced.Importantreminder:whattodoifyoufeelunwelland/orthinkyoumayhaveCOVID-19symptomsIfyouexperienceanyCOVID-19symptoms youmustimmediatelyself-isolateandassumeyouhavethevirus,pendingtheresultofaconfirmatoryPCRtest,whichyoushouldbookassoonaspossible.You musttakeaPCRtest (notanLFDtest)ifyouhavesymptoms.Youshouldwhereverpossible bookthePCRtestthroughtheEarlyAlertService,theresultsofwhichareusuallyavailablewellwithin24hours(shorterthantheusualwaitthroughNHStestingservices).Yourhouseholdmembersshouldalsoself-isolatewhileyouawaittheresultsofyourtest,unlesstheyareexempt(seedetailsof contactswhoarenotrequiredtoself-isolate onthegovernmentwebsite).Ifyouhavearespiratoryinfectionwhichisn’tCOVID-19,youshouldstilltakestepstoreducetransmission.Inparticularyoushould: washyourhandsoftenwithwarmwaterandsoap; useatissuetotrapgermswhenyoucoughorsneeze;and binusedtissuesasquicklyaspossible. Ifyouareworriedaboutbeingonsite,youshoulddiscussyouroptionswithyourmanager,supervisorortutorasyouusuallywould.YoushouldalsocontinuetofollowtheUniversity’swiderhealthguidanceasregardsrespectingotherpeople’sspace,andwearingfacecoveringswhereindicated.Thisisparticularlyimportantthisyear,asresearchshowsthatthosewhogetfluandCOVID-19atthesametimearemorelikelytobecomeseriouslyill.Reducingthespreadofrespiratoryinfectionswillhelptoprotectthehealthofthewidercommunity.TheUniversityis,throughtheNHS,providingLateralFlowDevicesfor twice-weeklyroutinetesting toidentifyinfectiouscasesbeforeanysymptomsdevelop.IfyoudevelopsymptomsbetweenLFDtests,youmuststopperformingthem,self-isolate,andhaveaPCRtestinstead.Youmustfollowtheguidelinesandonlystopself-isolatingifyoureceiveanegativePCRtest(butnotethatifyou’vebeentoldyoumustself-isolatebecauseyouareaclosecontactorbecauseamemberofyourhouseholdispositive,youmustcontinuetoself-isolateregardless)–anegativeLFDtestresult willnot releaseyoufromself-isolation.Formoreinformationgotoour PCRtestingpage.HowtoreportanexternalCOVID-19(positiveornegative)PCRtestresultIfyouusetheUniversitytestingserviceyourdepartmentand/orcollegewillbeinformedoftheresult.IfyoubookanNHStestinstead,youMUSTreportyourresult,positiveornegative,byusingthe ReportaPCRTestbutton onthe UniversityTestingpage.Thisistoensurethatyouhavethesupportyouneedandtoinitiatearapidresponsetominimisetheriskstoothers.WhattodoifyouhaveapositiveLateralFlowDevicetestresultIfyoutestpositivein any LFDtests(includingthoseincommunitytestingorreceivedfromthegovernmentviaanotherroute),youmustself-isolateimmediatelyandbookaconfirmatoryPCRtest,preferably throughtheEarlyAlertService (EAS).YouwillreceivefurtheradvicefromtheNHSandtheUniversityResultsLiaisonTeam(RLT).You(andyourhousehold,unlesstheyare exempt)shouldimmediatelyself-isolateandassumeyouhavethevirus,pendingtheresultofyourconfirmatoryPCRtest.IfyoureceiveaPCRtestresult(positive,negativeorvoid),througharouteotherthantheUniversityEarlyAlertservice(egviathenationalNHSservice),youmust reportyourPCRresult totheEAS.IfyoureceiveyourpositiveresultnotificationwhileattheUniversityyoushouldonlyusepublictransporttoreturnhomeifyouhavenootheroption.Youshouldstrictlyfollowthegovernment’s safertravelguidance.Becausethetestsdonotpickupeverycase,youmaystillbeinfectiousevenifyoureceiveanegativeresult,soitisessentialthatyoucontinuetofollowallCOVIDprecautions.**NEW14December2021**Whenyouneedtoself-isolatePromptandeffectiveself-isolationisavitalstepinlimitingCOVID-19transmission.Itisveryimportantthateveryoneself-isolateswhenaskedtodosobyNHSTestandTrace,theEASResultsLiaisonTeamortheir(college/department/faculty)COVIDcontact.MoreinformationisprovideddirectlybelowthissectionforclosecontactsofaCOVID-19case. Pleasevisitthegovernmentwebsite formoreguidanceforcontactsofpeoplewithconfirmedCOVID-19.**NEW15December2021**Whattodoifyou’reaCOVID-19contact FromTuesday14December,ifyouhavebeenfullyvaccinatedwithanapprovedCOVID-19vaccine(bothdosesofatwo-dosevaccineoronedoseofasingle-dosevaccine)andidentifiedasacontactofsomeonewithCOVID-19,youdonothavetoself-isolate.Instead,youshouldtakealateralflowtest(LFD)everydayforsevendays(oruntil10dayssinceyourlastcontactwiththepersonwhotestedpositiveforCOVID-19ifthisisearlier).ThisruleapplieswhetherthecaseisOmicronoranyothervariant.Youwillnotneedtoisolateifthetestsremainnegative. IfyoutestpositiveinanyofyourLFDtests,ordevelopsymptomsofCOVID-19,youmustself-isolateimmediatelyandtakeaconfirmatoryPCRtest.YoumayendyourisolationifyourPCRtestisnegativeandshouldcontinuetheLFDs.IfthePCRispositive,youmustcontinuetoself-isolateandfollowgovernmentguidance.Inallcasesyoushould reportLFDresultstotheEarlyAlertService and totheNHS,andyoumust reportexternalPCRteststotheEarlyAlertService.Pleasebeawarethatifyouwerealreadypartwaythroughisolatingasacontactwhentherulechangewasintroduced,youarefreedfromthisobligationbut arestronglyadvisedto performLFDsdailyuntilwhenyourisolationperiodwouldotherwisehaveended.Youshould reporttheresultsofyourteststotheEarlyAlertServiceandtheNHSasproofthatyouhavecomplied. Readthedetailedgovernmentguidanceformoreinformation.Notifyingcontacts(SSOrequired)Containingthespreadofthevirusdependsonresponsiblebehaviour,andquicklynotifyingthosewhohavebeenrecentclosecontacts.NHSTestandTraceFormalcontacttracingiscarriedoutbyNHSTestandTrace–whetheryouaccesstestingthroughtheUniversity’sserviceortheNHS.IfyourPCRtestispositive, youwillbeaskedtoprovidealistofrecentclosecontactsfortracingpurposes.NHSTestandTracemaythennotifythosecontactseitherbyphoneorviatheCOVID-19appthattheyneedtoself-isolateand/ortakeLFDtestsforsevendays.ThenameoftheindividualwithCOVID-19willnotbeshared.Tellingyourcontactsdirectlywillmeantheygettheinformationasfastaspossible,butitwillnotbeanonymous,asitwouldbeviaTestandTrace.WhatdoIdoifI’mtoldImaybeaclosecontact?IfNHSTestandTracecontactsyou,youmustfollowtheirinstructionscarefully.Ifyouarenotifiedbyanindividualyoushouldconsiderwhetheryouhavebeenexposedtothevirus, andrefertothe governmentguidanceforcontactsofpeoplewithconfirmedcoronavirus(COVID-19)infection.Howdoyoudefine'closecontact'?Youarelikelytobeconsidereda‘closecontact’ofsomeonewhohastestedpositive(andthereforeatriskofinfection)if:Youhavehadface-to-facecontact(egacloseconversationorahug);orYouhavebeenwithin1metre,withoutface-to-facecontact,for1minuteormore;orYouhavebeenlessthan2metresawayfromthemformorethan15minutes(overthecourseofasingleday),particularlyinanenclosedspace,ANDThecontactoccurredanytimefromthetwodaysbeforetheyexperiencedCOVID-19symptomsonwards.TestingforCOVID-19:EarlyAlertServiceVisitthe University’sTestingService if:YouhavesymptomsofCOVID-19; YouhavereceivedapositiveresultfromanLFDtest;orYouareadvisedtodosobypublichealthauthoritiesaspartoftheformalresponsetoanoutbreak.Rapididentificationandisolationofpositivecasesisessentialtoslowthespreadofthevirus. IfyoureceiveaPCRtestresult(positiveornegative)througharouteotherthantheUniversity'sEarlyAlertService(egviathenationalNHSservice),youmustreportyourresultbyusingthe ReportaTest buttononthe University'sTestingpage. Ifyourresultispositive,oryouhavebeentoldyoumustself-isolateduetobeingaclosecontact(anddonotmeetthegovernmentcriteriatobeexemptfromthisrule),youmustcontinuetoself-isolate,andreportyourabsencetoyourdepartmentandcollege.TheinformationyouprovidewillenabletheUniversityand/oryourcollegetotakeanyactionthatmaybeappropriatetoprotectourcommunity,andtomaintainafullpictureoftheprevalenceofCOVID-19withinthecollegiateUniversity.**NEW15December2021**InformationaboutaccessingCOVID-19vaccinesincludingboostersInlinewithgovernmentpolicy,westronglyencourageallstaffandstudentstobefullyvaccinatedandgettheirboosterdosewheneligibletoprotecttheirownhealthandthehealthofothers. Thosewhoarefullyvaccinatedmaynowalsobenefitfromnolongerbeinglegallyrequiredtoself-isolatewhen identifiedasaclosecontactofapositiveCOVID-19case(see fulldetailsofwhoisexemptfromself-isolation onthegovernmentwebsite).InformationabouttheCOVID-19vaccinationandhowtobookappointmentscanbefoundontheNHSwebsite.Therearealsodetailsof local walk-invaccinationclinics onthe OxfordshireClinicalCommissioningGroupwebsite.BoostersarenowavailableontheNHSforthoseaged18andover. Weareawareofsomecurrentoperationalchallengesrelatedtobookingboosters,andweareliaisingwithlocalauthoritiesaboutofferingawalk-invaccinationcentreinUniversitypremisesinthenewyear. **NEW15December2021**NHSCOVIDPassFrom15December,certainvenuesandeventswillberequiredbylawtocheckthatallvisitorsaged18yearsoroverarefullyvaccinated(currentlyafullcourseofvaccinationwithouttheneedforabooster,butthiswillbekeptunderreview),haveproofofanegativetestinthelast48hours,orthattheyhaveanexemption.Thismeansthatthoseaged18yearsorovermustshowtheirNHSCOVIDPass,oranalternativeproofofanegativetestresult,suchasanemailortextproof,togainentryintothesevenues.PleaserefertotheUKgovernmentwebsiteforfulldetailsof howtogettheNHSCOVIDPassandwhatyoucanuseitfor.ThosewhohavebeenfullyvaccinatedoutsidetheUKcanalso applyforaNHSCOVIDpass. Whilethisisnotnecessaryforself-isolationexemptions,COVIDpassesmayberequiredforattendingspecificeventsinthefuture,soitisrecommendedthatinternationalstaffandstudentsapplyforapasswhenpossible(notingthattherearecurrentlytechnicalissuesimpactingtheNHSwebsite).FluvaccineinformationThefluvaccineisparticularlyimportantthisyearbecausefewerpeoplewillhavebuiltupnaturalimmunityduringthepandemic,andbecauseresearchshowsthatthosewhogetfluandCOVID-19atthesametimearemorelikelytobecomeseriouslyill. FluvaccinesaregivenfreeontheNHStopeopleinanumberofgroups,includingthosewithseriouslong-termhealthconditionsandfrontlinehealthworkers.Staffandstudentsinthesegroupsareencouragedtogetavaccine.Youcan findoutifyouareeligibleforafreevaccine,andlearnhowtogetone, ontheNHSwebsite.NHSCOVID-19appWeencourageyoutousetheNHSCOVID-19app,whichincludesanumberoftoolstoprotectyou,includingcontacttracing,localareaalertsandvenuecheck-in.Important:theappdirectsuserstotheNHStestingservice.However,Oxfordstaffandstudentsshouldalways,wherepossible,usetheUniversity’sowntestingserviceinstead.YoucannotusetheNHSapptobookatestattheUniversityservice.InsteadyoushouldvisittheTestingforCOVID-19:EarlyAlertServicepagestobookatest.WellbeingCOVID-19impactsthewaywework,studyandinteractwithoneanother.Thesechangesarenotalwayswelcomeandcanleadtoanxiety.Thesefeelingscanbemoreacuteifyouhaveamentalillness.IfyouhaveworriesaboutCOVID-19,theUniversityhasanumberofvariedresourcesavailabletohelpbothstaffandstudents.It’simportantnottosufferinsilence.Ifyou’reastudent,helpandinformationcanbefoundonour studentwelfareandwellbeingpage.Therearealso onlineresourcesandguidanceforstaff. Beresponsible.Beconsiderate.Besafe. Facecoverings InformationabouttheUniversity'sguidanceonfacecoverings TestingforCOVID-19 TheUniversity’sin-houseCOVID-19testingserviceisopentoallstudentsandstaffoftheUniversityandcolleges,providingrapidaccesstofreetesting Healthinfoforstudents We'recommittedtokeepingourstudentssafeandtopromotingsafebehaviours Statusandtestingdata TheUniversity’sresponsetoCOVID-19andtheresultsofitsin-housetestingservice Healthcampaign Downloadourcampaignpackandaccessover80supportingcampaignmaterials(SSOneeded) Healthandwellbeingforstaff Resourcestosupportmentalhealthandwellbeing Wasthispageuseful?* Yes No Pleasetelluswhatyouwanttoseeonthispage,themorespecificyoucanbethemorelikelyitisthatwecanaddit.