1/ Covid, England, BA2: Outbreak of BA2 at a University HallsHealthy 18-19 years olds who've had Covid multiple times before taken 'aback about how bad they feel'—students 'encouraged' to go to lectures when positive—'I considered calling A+E' says student amid campus outbreak.
2/ A student at an English University has informed me about the disastrous and 'absolute disgrace' that has been taking place at British campuses during Covid.
3/ 'The universities have been an absolute disgrace during covid and it’s not been criticised enough'
4/ Their flat, which is part of dorms, is having yet another outbreak: with their flatmates all having more severe disease than the last time, with all 4 being infected.
5/ They write:
'Tuesday -8th March- First flatmate - develops symptoms. Quickly worsens over-night and wakes up with Tooth pain, itchy gums, roof of the mouth very sore. Very sore throat, very painful head.'
'Tuesday -8th March- First flatmate - develops symptoms. Quickly worsens over-night and wakes up with Tooth pain, itchy gums, roof of the mouth very sore. Very sore throat, very painful head.'
6/
Then:
'Flatmate 2 quickly develops symptoms - runny nose, sore throat, awful head, and very very tired. Slept most of the day. '
Then:
'Flatmate 2 quickly develops symptoms - runny nose, sore throat, awful head, and very very tired. Slept most of the day. '
7/
At this point, despite these symptoms, the flatmates continued to test negative four days after symptoms started:
'Both flat-mates still negative 12th March'
At this point, despite these symptoms, the flatmates continued to test negative four days after symptoms started:
'Both flat-mates still negative 12th March'
8/
The 3rd in the house then came down with it:
'Flatmate 3 develops symptoms. fatigued, diahorrea, nausea, skin really sensitive to touch, very warm skin- described it like having sun burn.'
The 3rd in the house then came down with it:
'Flatmate 3 develops symptoms. fatigued, diahorrea, nausea, skin really sensitive to touch, very warm skin- described it like having sun burn.'
9/
'I considered calling A+E the skin seemed that bad '
The skin 'sun burn like' symptom was so bad that the Student seriously considered taking the flatmate to A and E — this sounds like a potentially worrying inflammatory response. The student was extremely shaken by this.
'I considered calling A+E the skin seemed that bad '
The skin 'sun burn like' symptom was so bad that the Student seriously considered taking the flatmate to A and E — this sounds like a potentially worrying inflammatory response. The student was extremely shaken by this.
10/
Only at this point some 6-7 days after symptom onset did they start testing positive on LFTS:
'14 March—flatmates 1/2 test positive- very faint lines'
Only at this point some 6-7 days after symptom onset did they start testing positive on LFTS:
'14 March—flatmates 1/2 test positive- very faint lines'
11/
'But still positive 15th - flatmate 3 tests positive 17th March'
Clearly seems to the case that people are testing positive later in the course of infection: which is very different to BA1, Omicron—where people would test positive very early on.
'But still positive 15th - flatmate 3 tests positive 17th March'
Clearly seems to the case that people are testing positive later in the course of infection: which is very different to BA1, Omicron—where people would test positive very early on.
12/
Sadly, our student then tested positive—which given the exposure: living with 3 others who have the most infectious virus on earth is almost a given:
'I test positive after a week of being in their company 24/7.'
Sadly, our student then tested positive—which given the exposure: living with 3 others who have the most infectious virus on earth is almost a given:
'I test positive after a week of being in their company 24/7.'
13/
However, they say, and we hope it remains to be the cases that they have:
'No symptoms as of yet.'
However, they say, and we hope it remains to be the cases that they have:
'No symptoms as of yet.'
14/
'All 4 of us double jabbed 2 - boosted 2 flatmates - covid positive in December.'
And:
'My flatmates have been taken aback about how unwell they’ve felt with these symptoms.'
'All 4 of us double jabbed 2 - boosted 2 flatmates - covid positive in December.'
And:
'My flatmates have been taken aback about how unwell they’ve felt with these symptoms.'
15/
'They have all had covid multiple times and not felt this bad throughout the pandemic. All 4 four flatmates are healthy young 18/19-year-olds with no medical problems'
'They have all had covid multiple times and not felt this bad throughout the pandemic. All 4 four flatmates are healthy young 18/19-year-olds with no medical problems'
16/
Seems to be more severe in younger people this time: Omicron was already more severe in younger people—BA2 appears to be even more so.
Seems to be more severe in younger people this time: Omicron was already more severe in younger people—BA2 appears to be even more so.
17/
The student has informed the University of their own positive test in order to do the right thing and stay at home while positive: An email seen by Enemy In A State in response to the student's request says that students are ' strongly advised' to attend lessons...
The student has informed the University of their own positive test in order to do the right thing and stay at home while positive: An email seen by Enemy In A State in response to the student's request says that students are ' strongly advised' to attend lessons...
18/
...if positive so long as they don't have symptoms, and 'strongly encouraged to do so'
...if positive so long as they don't have symptoms, and 'strongly encouraged to do so'
19/
The University is urging students who are positive to 'attend lectures and seminars as normal' and take an active role in their studies regardless of their LFT results.
The University is urging students who are positive to 'attend lectures and seminars as normal' and take an active role in their studies regardless of their LFT results.
20/
Because they have no symptoms they are strongly advised to attend class as 'normal'.
Because they have no symptoms they are strongly advised to attend class as 'normal'.
21/
The University has essentially washed its hands of the spread, saying that it's not responsible for house-to-house transmission—and that it's made efforts to 'limit the spread' of the virus...
The University has essentially washed its hands of the spread, saying that it's not responsible for house-to-house transmission—and that it's made efforts to 'limit the spread' of the virus...
22/
...citing a weekly cleaning of halls of residence some sort of answer to the student's very real worries of uncontrolled spread on campus.
...citing a weekly cleaning of halls of residence some sort of answer to the student's very real worries of uncontrolled spread on campus.
23/
Selling students education and accommodation that is not safe should absolutely be considered the responsibility of any University—especially given the criminally high fees charged by British ones.
Selling students education and accommodation that is not safe should absolutely be considered the responsibility of any University—especially given the criminally high fees charged by British ones.
24/
As such, the Student says:
'The universities have been an absolute disgrace during covid and it’s not been criticized enough.'
As such, the Student says:
'The universities have been an absolute disgrace during covid and it’s not been criticized enough.'
25/
Further, they also spoke about a disabled student friend who has received yet more shocking treatment:
'My disabled friend in 2nd year in another part of the country wanted to do remote learning as he feared for his health, and the university said he should leave or...
Further, they also spoke about a disabled student friend who has received yet more shocking treatment:
'My disabled friend in 2nd year in another part of the country wanted to do remote learning as he feared for his health, and the university said he should leave or...
26/
...defer if he doesn’t feel safe. He had no option but to go and risk his health, when online learning is easily delivered'
...defer if he doesn’t feel safe. He had no option but to go and risk his health, when online learning is easily delivered'
27/
'it’s quickly spreading within halls and the student population and they dismissed that too.'
'it’s quickly spreading within halls and the student population and they dismissed that too.'
28/
The student said about speaking to the Uni about the outbreak—which is quickly spreading throughout the halls of residence and the campus itself.
The student says they are refusing to attend lectures while positive—despite what the Uni has told them to do:
The student said about speaking to the Uni about the outbreak—which is quickly spreading throughout the halls of residence and the campus itself.
The student says they are refusing to attend lectures while positive—despite what the Uni has told them to do:
29/
'I just said I’ll put public health first and not attended lectures until I’m negative again and they just came back and said I should go'
'I just said I’ll put public health first and not attended lectures until I’m negative again and they just came back and said I should go'
30/
On the current outbreak and Uni response:
'Seems to spread very easily, maybe even quicker than before Christmas I feel. Universities really don’t care though, some of their emails are mind blowing'
On the current outbreak and Uni response:
'Seems to spread very easily, maybe even quicker than before Christmas I feel. Universities really don’t care though, some of their emails are mind blowing'
31/ We wish all of those involved to have a speedy recovery—the story illustrates the massive outbreaks happening across campuses right now: with reinfections occurring rapidly in those who had BA1 a few months ago.
32/
The symptoms appear to be more focused on the head and stomach again: the 'sun burn' skin all over should be investigated—an inflammatory response or otherwise needs attention.
The symptoms appear to be more focused on the head and stomach again: the 'sun burn' skin all over should be investigated—an inflammatory response or otherwise needs attention.
33/
The 10x on average higher viral load would indicate that you will get more severe disease in itself—further the higher the load, then it seems logical to suggest the greater the possibility of inflammatory responses.
The 10x on average higher viral load would indicate that you will get more severe disease in itself—further the higher the load, then it seems logical to suggest the greater the possibility of inflammatory responses.
34/
It appears too that showing up as infectious on LFTs is happening much later than BA1: now we are seeing 6-8 days into symptoms. Which shows how the virus has developed yet again to fool us.
It appears too that showing up as infectious on LFTs is happening much later than BA1: now we are seeing 6-8 days into symptoms. Which shows how the virus has developed yet again to fool us.
35/
Just as school children have been used as infection sponges to build a make believe 'herd immunity' young people and students have/are going through the same process: denied of the right to safety from an easily preventable disease that has potentially severe consequences
Just as school children have been used as infection sponges to build a make believe 'herd immunity' young people and students have/are going through the same process: denied of the right to safety from an easily preventable disease that has potentially severe consequences
36/
The identity of those involved and the location of the university have not been kept anonymous—as per the request of the student who submitted the story: their details have been verified by me—the location will not be disclosed: though, it could in reality be any university
The identity of those involved and the location of the university have not been kept anonymous—as per the request of the student who submitted the story: their details have been verified by me—the location will not be disclosed: though, it could in reality be any university
**UPDATE** Uni Outbreak—Flatmate 3 has now had to to A & E for the 'sun burn' like sensitive warm skin all over. And sadly Student 4, who told has relayed the story, has now started having symptoms this evening.
38/
'No taste, sore head and runny nose myself! Really really nasty this! '
My friends skin sensitivity has got worse so has gone to A+E this evening…. Really worried about him. '
'No taste, sore head and runny nose myself! Really really nasty this! '
My friends skin sensitivity has got worse so has gone to A+E this evening…. Really worried about him. '
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