Coronavirus: More than 1,000 students test positive at Newcastle University
Author: Aishah Rahman | Thursday 8th October 2020
More than 1,000 students from Newcastle University have tested positive for coronavirus in the past week. The news comes on top of the 770 positive tests from neighbouring Northumbria University.
12 staff members amongst the 6,500 employees have also had a positive COVID-19 result.
From a total capacity of 28,000 students, the University confirmed 1,003 of them tested positive from October 1 to October 7.
A spokesperson from Newcastle University said: “The data represents students and staff within Newcastle City with the overwhelming majority of cases from social and residential settings”.
She added: “We expected to see the case rise in light of the increase in cases both locally and nationally”.
“We feel confident that we have appropriate measures in place to protect us all while we are on campus and to reduce the potential for transmission in our community”.
The students remain confined in their halls and both Universities have announced they will be switching to online teaching for at least three weeks.
