Join the thousands of students getting vaccinated against Covid-19.

We’re running an additional vaccination clinic on campus on Wednesday 2 March, 13.00-16.00. in the Old Santander Bank on the Canterbury campus. 

Come along for your free Covid-19 vaccination – 1st, 2nd and booster vaccines are all available.

For 18s and over the gap is 8 weeks after the first dose and 12 weeks for the booster after the second.  Anyone who has recently had Covid should wait for 28 days before getting their vaccine/booster.

Can’t make this date? Find a Covid-19 vaccination centre near you in Kent and Medway.

Living with Covid
Following the recent Government announcements on ‘Living with Covid’, all legal Covid-19 restrictions in England have now ended.

However, this does not mean that Covid has gone away, and we all still need to keep the safety of others in mind while we are on campus – particularly for those who are vulnerable or who have close friends or relatives who may be.

What this means at Kent
We are asking all of our students and staff to:

• Stay at home if you have Covid-19 symptoms until you have had two negative lateral flow tests 24 hours apart
• Wear a face covering in crowded indoor spaces as we have been
• Get tested regularly if you can when you are coming onto campus

Where can I get test kits?

Test kits can be ordered online and from a number of community locations such as pharmacies and libraries. Unfortunately, as part of the recent Government updates we are no longer able to distribute test kits ourselves due to changes to the licences for universities.

“All of you have played a huge role in helping us respond to Covid and I am hugely grateful for the way everyone has pulled together throughout to minimise cases at Kent – this collective approach will need to continue as we enter this new phase in how we manage our response.”
Professor Richard Reece, Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Education and Student Experience

From Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience

Last night the Prime Minister outlined the Government’s ‘living with Covid’ plan, including an announcement that all legal Covid restrictions in England will end this Thursday. Further changes to testing will also follow from 1 April. 

We are currently working through what this will mean for us at Kent, with keeping students, staff and visitors safe still our key priority. In the meantime, all of our current recommendations remain in place – including testing regularly, isolating if you have Covid symptoms, and wearing masks in crowded indoor spaces. 

My thanks to all of you for your continued support in our response to Covid, which has been a big part of keeping infections as low as possible throughout. I will be in touch with a further update shortly once we are clear on any changes we need to make in the weeks and months ahead. 

With all good wishes, 

Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience

Join the thousands of students getting vaccinated against Covid-19.

We will be running an additional vaccination clinic on campus  today (Wednesday 26 January), from now until 16.00, in the Old Santander Bank on the Canterbury campus. 

Come along for your free Covid-19 vaccination – 1st, 2nd and booster vaccines are all available.

For 18s and over the gap is 8 weeks after the first dose and 12 weeks for the booster after the second.  Anyone who has recently had Covid should wait for 28 days before getting their vaccine/booster.

Can’t make today? We’ll be running another pop-up vaccination clinic on Tuesday 1 February. 

Join the thousands of students getting vaccinated against Covid-19.

Following the success of the last vaccination clinic on campus, we will be running another on Tuesday 1 February, 12.30-16.30, in the Old Santander Bank on the Canterbury campus. 

Come along for your free Covid-19 vaccination – 1st, 2nd and booster vaccines are all available.

For 18s and over the gap is 8 weeks after the first dose and 12 weeks for the booster after the second.  Anyone who has recently had Covid should wait for 28 days before getting their vaccine/booster.

Can’t make these? Find a Covid-19 vaccination centre near you in Kent and Medway.

From Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience

Following my email on Wednesday about recent Government Covid-19 announcements, I wanted to follow up with a bit more detail on what this will mean for us at Kent. As you know, our focus throughout the pandemic has been on keeping our entire community safe, and our approach at this stage is on taking sensible steps to limit the risk of infection as we return fully to face-to-face teaching.

We also all have a role in recognising and respecting the different situations both students and staff may be in and that some, particularly those who are more vulnerable, will be concerned about the changing picture nationally. With that in mind, our expectation is that everyone should continue to wear face coverings in teaching spaces, communal areas of our buildings and other areas where there are lots of people around. This can make a real difference to infection rates, along with reassuring those who are most at risk.

Vaccinations

It was fantastic to see so many of you at our pop-up vaccination centre on our Canterbury campus earlier this week, joining the thousands of students who have been jabbed across the country. If you are heading into town this weekend, there will another walk-in at Whitefriars in the empty Ernest Jones shop from 10.00 to 16.00 on both Saturday and Sunday – we’ll also have another pop-up centre on Canterbury campus in the Old Bank on Tuesday 1 February from 12.30 to 16.30. Find a Covid-19 vaccination centre near you.

Testing

Everyone coming onto campus should also continue to test at least twice a week and register their results with the NHS – free lateral flow test kits are available on the Canterbury campus from College receptions, Campus Security, the Registry and the Templeman Library, plus at the Old Sports Hall at Medway.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support with this and for everything you continue to do to keep our campuses safe.

With all good wishes,

Richard

Professor Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience

It’s as important as ever that we all continue to get regular Covid tests – until 28 January, every time you get a Covid test on Medway campus, you can claim a free tea/coffee on us.

Getting regular Covid tests on Medway campus is quick and easy to do, and it’s a way of helping to keep everyone on campus and your friends and family safe.

Through our work with Medway Council and the universities at Medway we’re continuing to encourage you to get regular Covid tests on campus, and we’ll offer you a free tea/coffee in exchange. Simply take the registration card provided at the test centre on campus to the Deep End and have a tea/coffee on us.

Thank you for helping to keep us all safe.

FAQs

When is the test site open?

You can find details on the Medway Council website.

How do I claim my free drink?

Simply take the registration card provided by the test site to the Deep End, and order your drink.  The card will be stamped and it can only be used once.

Can I claim a free drink for collecting home test kits?

No, this is only for tests carried out on campus.  The home test kit collection service remains available.

How long is this running for?

This opens on 17 January and closes on 28 January.

Can I claim my free drink after 28 January?

No this closes on 28 January and all free drinks must be claimed by that date.

From Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience

Following my email earlier this week, the UK Government has confirmed that all countries have now been removed from the ‘Red List’ for quarantine, effective from 04.00 this morning. This means that as it stands, anyone wishing to travel to those countries can do so without needing to quarantine on their return. 

What this means for you 

All travellers arriving in England must take a test before departure but will now be able to isolate at their UK address on their return; this can include University accommodation. When you enter the UK from abroad, you will need to take a PCR test within two days of arrival – if this is negative and you have been double vaccinated, you are then released from any additional restrictions. If you haven’t had your vaccinations, you will need to stay at home for 10 days and take a further test on day eight or later. There is more information on where you can get a PCR test on the Government website.

While I know many of you will have already finalised or adapted travel plans based on the earlier guidance, I hope you share my positivity at this news and that those that want to can now book travel home in time for the Christmas break. If you are staying with us, we will still have activities and services available to support you throughout – see our winter break webpages for further info on care packages, festive events and Kent Union’s Winter Buddy Scheme.

With all good wishes, 

Richard 

Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience