Coronavirus outbreak prompts University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University to advise students not to travel home to China
14:14, 07 February 2020
updated: 10:57, 10 February 2020
Chinese students in Kent are being told not to travel home following the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus.
The University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), which have campuses in Canterbury and Medway, has already postponed all study, research and work-related travel to China.
They also suggested staff and students don't make any trips for personal reasons.
But the universities are still in the early stages of their spring terms – Kent finish for holidays on April 3 for four weeks and CCCU students' next break begins on March 30.
The University of Kent has about 300 people from China at both sites and says it is "continuing to closely monitor" advice from leading bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Following WHO's declaration the virus is a public health emergency of international concern, the UK Chief Medical Officers raised the risk to the UK public from low to moderate.
Director of student and academic services at the University of Greenwich, Chris Shelley, wrote to all students whose records showed they had an address in the areas directly affected, and provided the latest government advice and support services from the university.
Affected students have also been advised on how they can report as absent if they need to delay their return to university because of the virus.
A spokesman for the university said if "anyone is worried or concerned" by news of the outbreak and want to talk to someone, they should contact the student wellbeing team in Keynes block, Canterbury, or in the Gillingham building in Medway.
The university said last week it was suspending all research-related work in China.
CCCU spokesman Jeanette Earl said: “The safety and welfare of our students and staff is a top priority for the University.
"As is consistent with the latest Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice, we are advising all staff and students against making any trips to China for university business or personal reasons.
“We will continue to closely monitor FCO, Public Health England and World Health Organisation advice, and advise students and staff appropriately.
"Any student requiring support should contact our Student Support and Wellbeing team."
Chris Shelley added: “Like universities around the country, we’ve been working hard to ensure that all of our students and staff are kept informed of the latest official advice from the government, sharing it on our university channels.
"We have also directly contacted students with home addresses in the affected areas to remind them of the support services on offer from the Student Wellbeing Service and the Students’ Union advice service. We’re continuing to monitor the situation closely.”
