Coronavirus: guidance for staff and students

Last updated 15.10 Wednesday 5 February 2020

We know that some of you have may have concerns or questions about the current outbreak of coronavirus. We want to reassure you we are working hard to ensure everyone at the College is safe and that, as far as possible, College business proceeds as normal.

As of 31 January there are two confirmed cases in the UK. UK public health measures are world leading and the excellent NHS is well prepared to manage and treat new diseases.

The UK has raised the risk to the public from low to moderate. This permits the government to plan for all eventualities. The risk to individuals in the UK has not changed at this stage.

The NHS advises that health professionals will aim to contact anyone who has been in close contact with an infected person. If you have not been contacted, be reassured you are extremely unlikely to catch coronavirus.

At Imperial we have followed well-established systems in setting up a cross-College group. We are meeting on a regular basis and ensuring we have the most up to date information from all relevant sources to share across the community so that people can take proportionate action.

In addition to the guidance below, detailed FAQs for students are also available. 

Travel to China – including travel to Hubei

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to Hubei Province due to the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak.

The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China (not including Hong Kong and Macao). The Chinese government continue to impose further restrictions on movement within China in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

In line with FCO guidance, we advise against travel to China on College business at this time. If you consider your trip to China to be essential, please seek approval from your Dean or Director and confirm the College travel insurance position. The College will not allow work or study related trips which are not covered by the College insurance policy.

If you are currently in China on College business, please contact your Faculty Operating Officer or Director to check your College travel insurance position. If the area you are in is no longer covered by insurance, we will support you to return to the UK.

Travellers returning from Wuhan and Hubei Province

If you have returned from Wuhan or Hubei Province in the last 14 days please follow Public Health England advice and:

• stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with other flu viruses
• call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the city

Please follow this advice even if you do not have symptoms of the virus.

Please do not let any concerns about your work or studies stop you taking this advice.

Staff

If you are a member of staff, please contact your line manager and coronavirus-guidance@imperial.ac.uk for support.

If you are currently in Wuhan and unable to return to the UK, please be reassured that you will not be penalised for missing work. Faculties are liaising with HR on individual cases.

Students

If you are a student, please contact all of the following for support:

• your personal tutor or supervisor
• coronavirus-guidance@imperial.ac.uk
• the Student Services team

If you are currently in Wuhan and unable to return to the UK, please be reassured that specific arrangements about your course will be handled by your faculty. The cross-College group is working with the faculties on any disruption to study. 

Travellers currently in or returning from elsewhere in China and/or visitors to the College from China

The UK Government has introduced advanced monitoring at airports with direct flights from China. China has also introduced port-of-exit screening so people already exhibiting symptoms are not allowed to leave the country.

Currently Public Health England is not advising people who have come or returned to the UK from other parts of China to avoid contact with others.

However, if you have travelled from elsewhere in China (but not Macao or Hong Kong) to the UK in the last 14 days and develop symptoms of cough, fever or shortness of breath, you should immediately:

• stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu
• call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the country

Please follow this advice even if your symptoms are minor.

If you are currently in China on a personal trip, please contact us at coronavirus-guidance@imperial.ac.uk to let us know.

If you have visitors from Wuhan scheduled to come to the College please contact them to postpone their trip.

If you have visitors from elsewhere in China scheduled to come to the College there is currently no need to change your plans. This is being kept under review.

Travel to other countries

There are currently no travel restrictions relating to coronavirus in other countries. If you are planning a trip elsewhere you should check the FCO advice on a regular basis.

If you are planning a trip with a group of staff or students please inform your Faculty Operating Officer or the Imperial College Union as appropriate – you may need to be prepared to make changes at short notice.

Looking after your own health

The WHO’s standard recommendations for the general public to reduce exposure to and transmission of a range of illnesses are as follows, which include hand and respiratory hygiene, and safe food practices:

• Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water;
• When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands;
• Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough;
• If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider;
• The consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided. Raw meat, milk or animal organs should be handled with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices.

We are currently looking into sourcing supplies of alcohol-based hand rub for use in the College.

Students and staff experiencing persistent symptoms (similar to those of a common cold, including fever, dry cough, sore throat, problems breathing, shortness of breath, headache and body aches) should seek medical care by calling NHS 111. Please do not leave your home until you have been given advice by a clinician.

Existing medical conditions

If you are concerned because you have an existing medical condition or disability, please discuss this with your GP in the first instance.

Accessing healthcare in the UK

Anyone can call NHS 111 for medical advice – you do not need to be registered with a GP to call.

If you have travelled from elsewhere in China (but not Macao or Hong Kong) to the UK in the last 14 days and develop symptoms of cough, fever or shortness of breath, you should call NHS 111 – do not visit your GP practice in person.

In general it’s important to register with a GP so that you can access NHS healthcare.

Students

Please visit the Student Support Zone page for guidance on registering with a GP.

Staff

Please visit the staff pages for guidance on registering with a GP.

Concerns about friends or family

If you have concerns about friends or family in China, please contact your personal tutor, supervisor or line manager for support.

Concerns on campus

We understand that this is a worrying time but please be mindful of how your actions may be perceived. Imperial does not tolerate discrimination or harassment.

Anyone who has concerns should contact their personal tutor, hall warden, supervisor or line manager. If you feel unable to do so, please contact us at coronavirus-guidance@imperial.ac.uk

Additional advice

We will continue to keep this webpage updated. Should there be any major changes we will inform the community directly.

Detailed FAQs for students are now available. 

Further advice and updates are also available on these sites: Public Health England, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the World Health Organisation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you have any specific concerns not covered here you can email coronavirus-guidance@imperial.ac.uk and your query will be directed to the most relevant person.