EXCLUSIVE - University of Exeter students living within the city are being asked not to meet indoors with anyone not part of their households for the next fortnight.
More than half of the cases confirmed in the previous week across Exeter are attributable to the University – mainly from students unwittingly arriving having already been infected elsewhere in the country and passing it onto the housemates.
The University, following discussions with Public Health England, Devon County Council and Exeter City Council, is asking students to take the additional measures to avoid further local restrictions, of the type already seen in a number of other universities.
For the next 14 days, beginning from today, students who live in Exeter are being asked to not to meet indoors with anyone who is not part of their household. Exceptions to this are for study, work, organised sport, or in an emergency situation where people are in danger.
A spokesman for the University of Exeter said while students are still free and able to go out, they should not socialise in other people’s residences, and outside their current household they must observe the Rule of Six and all other social distancing measures at all times.
For the period between September 18 and 24, 50 cases have been confirmed from people living within the Pennsylvania and University MSOA, with a cluster of 3 in St Thomas East and 7 in St James's Park & Hoopern.
A spokesman said: “We are seeing a continued rise in student Covid-19 cases and, although at this stage there is no evidence of wider community transmission, we are taking further action today in Exeter to control the spread of infection
“We have agreed with PHE, Devon County Council and Exeter City Council that now is the time to ask students living in Exeter to take significant additional measures. This is necessary to avoid further local restrictions, of the type already seen in a number of other universities.
“This does not mean that students cannot go out, but they should not socialise in other people’s residences, and outside their current household they must observe the Rule of Six and all other social distancing measures at all times.
"“Students are required to abide by our ‘Safe Community Charter’ and the vast majority of students have behaved impeccably but where students break the rules we will take action, including sanctions such as suspension and expulsion.
"We are also providing a wide range of support for students isolating from online groceries and activities to targeted wellbeing support.”
Dr Virginia Pearson, Director of Public Health Devon, added: "Like many University cities, the city of Exeter has seen a sharp rise in the number of cases since the start of the university term, now accounting for more than half of the county’s total 116 cases
"Our analysis indicates that infection is passing between individuals largely in social and residential settings rather than in educational settings, which is why students are asked not to meet indoors with anyone other than those in their households for the next 14 days."
Correction - the MSOA cluster of 3 cases is in St Leonard's, not St Thomas East
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