Dear colleagues,
I hope this finds you and your families well as we move into the final couple of weeks of the semester before the festive break.
Like many of you, I have been closely monitoring developments around the world in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic this week. As Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said in her statement to Parliament on Tuesday, the current data gives a reasonable degree of certainty that the Omicron variant is more transmissible than the Delta variant, and perhaps significantly so.
It will take time for scientists to have a full picture of the impact of this variant, the severity of disease it causes, and its ability to re-infect people. However, what is clear is that we all have a role to play in heightening our compliance with the protections now, and in the weeks ahead.
Our internal COVID-19 mitigation measures have been guided by our focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of our University community, and already go beyond the Scottish Government’s guidance for the Higher Education sector. This includes: working from home wherever possible; physical distancing on campus; and, the use of face coverings unless exempt.
Today, I am asking for your support once again in adhering to the guidance. This includes taking regular lateral flow tests, not just twice a week, but each day you intend to mix with people from outside your household.
To support colleagues with this, free lateral flow tests are now available for collection at Strathclyde Sport reception, in addition to the existing Collection Centre in Livingstone Tower. You can find full details of where and when to pick up tests on our website. Lateral flow tests are also widely available from pharmacies and for online delivery from the UK Government website.
In her statement to Parliament, the First Minister also outlined that Test & Protect is now deploying enhanced contact tracing for all test results with the indicator for the Omicron variant. For these cases, household contacts of close contacts, rather than just the close contacts themselves, are being asked to take a PCR test and isolate. If you are asked to do this, please do so.
In this context and as we move towards the Christmas and New Year holidays, I would encourage you to give careful consideration before holding any office Christmas lunches or gatherings between now and the festive break.
I know the continued COVID-19 mitigations are not what we all hoped for at the end of the year – indeed, quite the opposite. However, the efforts we are putting in now are playing a vital role in keeping each other, our students and our communities safe and well. I would like to place on record my sincere thanks for your ongoing support.
The Scottish Government is now reviewing the COVID situation on a daily basis, and we will keep you up-to-date with the latest information for universities. Please remember that, if you test positive for COVID-19, you should let the University know straight away via our reporting form.
Finally, as we move into December and more wintery weather, I would ask you again to take a moment to reflect on your own wellbeing and that of your team. You can find lots of useful advice and support on the Working from Home Wellbeing Hub, as well as in Inside Strathclyde.
As a reminder, our Meeting-Free Fridays initiative remains in place to give colleagues the space and time to plan and prepare for the week ahead, and has received overwhelmingly positive feedback. Where possible, please try to avoid scheduling meetings on Fridays to enable everyone to benefit from this positive innovation.
Most importantly, please stay safe and take care of yourself and those around you so that we can make our way into the forthcoming two weeks+ break in a way that will allow us to relax, enjoy time with family and friends and reflect on what has been another successful year for Strathclyde.
Have a great Friday, and a restful weekend.
Best wishes,
Jim