End of the Government’s Plan B – Arrangements on our campuses

The UK Government announced last week that their additional Plan B restrictions will be coming to an end over the coming weeks.

We have reviewed the arrangements in place at Essex along with our local infection numbers.

From Thursday 27 January 2022, we expect to lift the requirement for capacity limits for large scale events on our campuses. We will continue to strongly encourage the use of face coverings in teaching events and other indoor areas where close contact with others cannot be avoided.

We are committed to maintaining your safety and wellbeing. The University remains in Targeted Protection. Some measures will continue to ensure that our campuses are COVID-secure and we are able to take short-term action if necessary for particular courses or cohorts to manage any transmission risks.

We are keeping the situation under constant review. We are drafting revised risk assessments and guidance to make sure any further changes in restrictions happen safely. We will update you with more information as soon as possible.

Students living off campus, please remember to test before you come to campus, or take a test at one of our testing sites as soon as you arrive. Students living on campus, please continue to take a COVID test twice weekly.

Thank you for your support and co-operation in keeping our campuses COVID-secure. We are look forward to bringing even more life back to our campuses during February and March by relaxing restrictions further if infection rates remain stable.

Please contact your Department or School if you have any questions, who will be able to discuss the support available to you.

I wish you all the very best with your studies during this term.