Welsh Lib Dem Education Minister announces Christmas travel plans for students
Welsh Lib Dem Education Minister Kirsty Williams has
announced Christmas travel plans for students.
Universities across Wales will also end face-to-face lessons
in the week ending 8 December, allowing anyone who tests positive for
coronavirus to self-isolate for 14 days before traveling home for the Christmas
break.
New covid-19 lateral flow tests, designed to diagnose people
without symptoms, will be provided to students who are planning to travel home
for the holiday.
Students at universities in Wales who plan to travel home
for the holidays will be asked to:
- minimise
their social contacts in the run up to the end of term;
- get
an asymptomatic test, ideally within 24 hours of their intended travel
time. New asymptomatic testing facilities will be available at
participating universities in Wales within the next few weeks;
- Plan
to travel no later than 9 December, allowing time to rearrange their
travel plans in case they need to self-isolate;
- familiarise
themselves with their university’s plans for concluding in-person teaching
and arrangements to ensure people can exit campuses safely.
The governments of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland
will announce separately their plans for students living there. Each government
has worked together in recent weeks on these matters. The Welsh Government will
also communicate directly with Welsh students at universities elsewhere in the
UK.
Kirsty Williams, the Education Minister, said:
“Many students will wish to return home for the Christmas
break and I’m pleased to confirm arrangements to enable that. Our priority, and
the priority for our universities, has been to enable students to travel home
safely, while minimising the risk of transmission of the coronavirus.
“It’s also important students take action to minimise the
chances they could bring the virus back home to friends and family members, who
may be far more vulnerable to its effects. That’s why we’re asking students to
limit their social contacts as they’re preparing to travel home. The more
people socialise, the greater their risk of contracting coronavirus.
“We have been working with the other nations to ensure that
all students, no matter where they live or study, are treated fairly and can
travel home as safely as possible.
“We are also working with our universities to roll out the
asymptomatic mass testing pilot before the end of term. I would encourage
students to sign up for the testing pilot to make returning home at the end of
term easier.
“I have been determined that students here in Wales are able
to spend the holidays where they most want to, in a safe way, and these
arrangements will allow that to happen.”
Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds Welcomed
the announcement:
“Enabling students to return home safely for Christmas is a
significant achievement and one that should not be underestimated. Kirsty
Williams has championed this united approach and I’m pleased she has been able
to make this announcement today.
"It’s pleasing to see all universities across Wales
working together to work together to achieve this as well as the four
governments of the UK working together at this difficult time.
“It’s fantastic to see Kirsty Williams and the Welsh Lib
Dems helping families up and down the UK plan for a Christmas that is as normal
as possible.”
Welsh Lib Dem Education Minister Kirsty Williams has
announced Christmas travel plans for students.
Universities across Wales will also end face-to-face lessons
in the week ending 8 December, allowing anyone who tests positive for
coronavirus to self-isolate for 14 days before traveling home for the Christmas
break.
New covid-19 lateral flow tests, designed to diagnose people
without symptoms, will be provided to students who are planning to travel home
for the holiday.
Students at universities in Wales who plan to travel home
for the holidays will be asked to:
- minimise
their social contacts in the run up to the end of term;
- get
an asymptomatic test, ideally within 24 hours of their intended travel
time. New asymptomatic testing facilities will be available at
participating universities in Wales within the next few weeks;
- Plan
to travel no later than 9 December, allowing time to rearrange their
travel plans in case they need to self-isolate;
- familiarise
themselves with their university’s plans for concluding in-person teaching
and arrangements to ensure people can exit campuses safely.
The governments of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland
will announce separately their plans for students living there. Each government
has worked together in recent weeks on these matters. The Welsh Government will
also communicate directly with Welsh students at universities elsewhere in the
UK.
Kirsty Williams, the Education Minister, said:
“Many students will wish to return home for the Christmas
break and I’m pleased to confirm arrangements to enable that. Our priority, and
the priority for our universities, has been to enable students to travel home
safely, while minimising the risk of transmission of the coronavirus.
“It’s also important students take action to minimise the
chances they could bring the virus back home to friends and family members, who
may be far more vulnerable to its effects. That’s why we’re asking students to
limit their social contacts as they’re preparing to travel home. The more
people socialise, the greater their risk of contracting coronavirus.
“We have been working with the other nations to ensure that
all students, no matter where they live or study, are treated fairly and can
travel home as safely as possible.
“We are also working with our universities to roll out the
asymptomatic mass testing pilot before the end of term. I would encourage
students to sign up for the testing pilot to make returning home at the end of
term easier.
“I have been determined that students here in Wales are able
to spend the holidays where they most want to, in a safe way, and these
arrangements will allow that to happen.”
Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds Welcomed
the announcement:
“Enabling students to return home safely for Christmas is a
significant achievement and one that should not be underestimated. Kirsty
Williams has championed this united approach and I’m pleased she has been able
to make this announcement today.
"It’s pleasing to see all universities across Wales
working together to work together to achieve this as well as the four
governments of the UK working together at this difficult time.
“It’s fantastic to see Kirsty Williams and the Welsh Lib
Dems helping families up and down the UK plan for a Christmas that is as normal
as possible.”
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