STUDENTS have been told they will be able to return home to their families this Christmas, despite coronavirus concerns.

The University of Worcester has clarified that students wishing to return home to families at Christmas would be supported to do so.

A spokesman for Worcester University said: “Students at Worcester are the future highly skilled professionals on whom society will depend.

“Naturally students are treated with the respect and intelligence they deserve as valued citizens and members of our University community and wider society.

“In a speech to the House of Commons, Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, clarified that students wishing to return home to families at Christmas would be supported so to do. At Worcester we welcome that announcement.

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“Students, like all other citizens, are expected to follow all the national guidance and regulations as set down by the Government. Where they or anyone in their household has been asked to self-isolate, they will, of course, do so.

“At the University we will continue to work closely with Public Health in Worcestershire to support all of our students so that they can continue their vital education in the safest possible way whilst doing all we can to minimise the transmission of the virus.”

The university has also spoken out in favour of combining in-person with online teaching and the importance of Covid-19 testing availability amid the national concern for the welfare of students.

Professor David Green CBE, the university’s vice chancellor and chief executive said: “It is vital that universities remain open and highly supportive of our students. At Worcester, our aim is to be an educational hotspot and a coronavirus cold spot.

“It is important for most students’ educational progress and mental health that they are able to learn in-person as well as online. During this pandemic, this means supporting any student with Covid-19 symptoms to immediately self-isolate together with their student household, which is their flat, not the entire hall of residence.

“Rapid, reliable testing is also essential and is just as important at university as it is in the community generally.”

Over 200 students remained in residence during lockdown earlier this year.

Ross Renton, Senior Pro Vice Chancellor at the University, said: “We know that the way in which society and communities respond to Covid-19 has a big impact – including on other aspects of health. For example, calls from students for help with mental health increased by a third at the University during ‘lockdown’. Taking all this into account it is quite clear that we need to resume our educational and community building work in person as well as remotely. Our task is to do so in a sensible, reasonable and balanced way promoting human health.”