While an announcement is expected to place tighter restrictions on the region next week the current infection rate and rising number of cases in the region, has led council leaders, Public Health colleagues and the leaders of both universities to join together to encourage everyone to change behaviours now.

While the high numbers of cases are linked to younger people this is not about demonising any demographic and our partners are keen to stress that this is a shared problem we can all help solve.

We are encouraging all students to stop mixing outside of their households with immediate effect, to stay in and to avoid all but essential travel.

We are planning a range of measures to support this including movie vouchers, sporting events, and discount vouchers. More details can be found on the coronavirus webpages. These offers will be available for those in halls as well as those living off-campus.

We are also asking staff to follow the messaging and reduce their social interactions outside of their households where possible. We all need to work together to protect everyone.

Measures will also be put in place over the weekend to help students to follow the advice around socialising within their households only. This includes things like facilitating more spaces for households to socialise together, making households more identifiable and introducing additional staff to enforce measures both on and off campus.

We know many of you will be concerned about these new restrictions and how they will all impact the small amount of freedom we have enjoyed since national lockdown restrictions were removed.

Over the next week we will be carrying out a series of briefings in halls – giving people the chance to absorb the details of any new announcement and understand why we are asking you to take these steps now.

In addition to these we will be carrying out additional welfare checks on all students isolating, particularly those who might be more vulnerable. We have also increased the amount of information available on our webpages, including support for those in isolation, information on how to get a coronavirus test and a reminder of the process if you become ill.

We have been very clear about the behaviours we expect from our university community – particularly in light of the challenging times we all face. Although the majority of our students are doing the right thing, under our student Code of Conduct there are serious consequences for any students who do not obey the rules, including disciplinary action, fines and campus sanctions – in addition to police fines.

Leaders urge people to take action

Alison Challenger, Director of Public Health for Nottingham: “We are seeing a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases in Nottingham. Our rate of infection is now rising higher than many other parts of the country. This is a significant and worrying change.

“It means the measures we currently have in place are no longer enough to stop the spread of the virus in our city. We will have to do more to keep people safe in Nottingham.

“We would urge people to take action now and not mix indoors with people from other households. It remains OK to mix with those in your support bubbles unless someone has tested positive or has symptoms.

“We would ask people who have symptoms of COVID-19 – high temperature, continuous cough or loss of taste or smell – to self-isolate immediately and book a test by calling 119.

“And we strongly advise young people, including students in the city, to remain in their social bubbles and not mix in their homes with people from other households.”

Cllr David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council, added: “It is important to remember that there is no vaccine for COVID-19 at present. Our best defence is to wash our hands, wear a face covering and maintain social distancing. It is important to acknowledge that the majority of people are following the correct behaviours and playing their part in keeping our city safe – and we thank them for this.

“However, it is clear from the rate of infection that we must take more precautions. Nobody can afford to be complacent. Everyone needs to ask themselves, ‘am I doing enough to guard against a disease that could harm me, or the person next to me or my loved ones?’ If not, you need to change your approach and stick rigidly to the rules, if we are to see a reduction in the number of cases that are currently sweeping through our city.

“This will not be easy for any of us. We have been living with COVID-19 in our city and our communities for over eight months. Our lives have been restricted, we feel inconvenienced, and we all have worry and anxiety over our health and wellbeing. Some of us, sadly, may have lost loved ones to the virus.

“We are reaching a critical point in managing the spread of the virus as we head towards winter. So, we have to keep going. We have to continue to work together by sticking to the rules and following a few important rules and guidelines.”