COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test
The main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
What to do if you have symptoms
If you have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19, even if they're mild:
- Get a PCR test (test that is sent to a lab) to check if you have COVID-19 as soon as possible. Get a PCR test to check if you have COVID-19 on GOV.UK
- You and anyone you live with should stay at home and not have visitors until you get your test result – only leave your home to have a test.
What happens when someone tests positive
When we receive notification of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, we follow our detailed test and trace procedure. This includes a robust contact tracing system to reduce onward transmission, communications to relevant students and staff, and the cleaning of any affected areas.
Staff and students who report a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 are asked to share details of their close contacts to allow us to inform anyone who needs to self-isolate, in-line with government guidelines.
Help and support if you are self-isolating
Support is on hand for students who are self-isolating with a possible or confirmed case of COVID-19, this includes advice on how to arrange things like deliveries of food and medication, as well as mental health and counselling support. A University ‘Buddies’ service run by our Students’ Union.