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Covid-19 updates for staff and students

This page will feature regular updates from BSMS on the latest return to campus updates for staff and students. Please check back for further updates.

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Student Support update - Christmas 2021

Student Support - contact times and resources for the festive period

The Student Support team wishes you a safe and restful Winter break and we look forward to seeing you in January 2022.

If you are staying in Brighton for the Winter break both the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton have lists of events happening on campus and around Brighton over the break and on Christmas day, as well as the visit Brighton website.

The Student Support Team at BSMS are available until 5pm Tuesday 21 December and will then be off until the universities reopen on Tuesday 4 January 2022. The best way to contact us, as always is via studentsupport@bsms.ac.uk. Any emails or queries we receive from the 21 December will be responded to as soon as possible from the 4 January 2022.

If you are looking for urgent support or advice over the winter break:

In an emergency call 999
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis in Brighton and Hove call MHRRS (24/7) 0300 304 0078 who provide an urgent response service to the people of Brighton & Hove when they feel they are in a mental health crisis and are at immediate risk of harming themselves or others.
Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can call The Sussex Mental Health Line (24/7) 0300 5000 101
If you need to talk with someone call the Samaritans: 116 123 (available 24/7)

Best wishes

The Student Support team

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Updates for staff

December 2021

Plan B restrictions – an update for BSMS staff

The Government announced on Wednesday 8 December, that Plan B restrictions will be introduced in response to the rise in cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant. Teaching, research and associated activities at BSMS will continue in person. All staff should read the following guidance.

Working from home

The Government is advising that from Monday 13 December, staff who are not required to work on campus should work from home, where this is possible to do so. Those staff who are required to work on campus, such as those involved in research, teaching and other student facing roles should continue to do so. All buildings on both the University of Sussex and University Brighton campuses will remain open, including the Medical Teaching Building, Medical Research Building, Trafford, SHORE-C and CISC (Sussex) and Watson Building (Brighton). Residences and other services on both campuses will also remain open. Teaching for all years and courses at BSMS will finish by Friday 17 December.

Face coverings

All staff are reminded that it remains a legal requirement to wear face coverings in shops and on public transport, unless exempt. In addition, mandatory face coverings will be introduced in most public venues. BSMS expects all students and staff to wear face coverings, unless exempt, in crowded and enclosed spaces on both campuses – including in all teaching spaces and libraries – and to follow the instructions indicated by signage. This signage is very visible across the campus. One exemption to this is whilst eating and drinking in bars and cafes. BSMS will be introducing more signage in its buildings shortly.

Vaccination status

Vaccine passports will now be required for larger unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people. Vaccination is critical in helping to minimise transmission against this new variant and we strongly advise all to consider vaccinations and booster jabs.

For staff employed by the University of Sussex, please consider updating your vaccination status on the MyView portal, as this is helpful for planning purposes. It is your choice whether you supply this information, and you can update or remove this data at any time.

Testing and isolation

The Government guidance is also updated with regards to isolating if you have been in close contact with an Omicron case, which you can read here. You will be informed by NHS track and trace if that is the case. Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should isolate and get a PCR test immediately.

All staff can get twice-weekly Covid-19 tests using the home testing kits that can be ordered from the gov.uk website. Staff and students can also collect home testing kits from several campus locations at Sussex and from Falmer Sports Centre and the library at Brighton.

The Mobile Testing Unit (MTU) remains on the Sussex campus, providing PCR testing to those with symptoms from 10am – 4pm. This is operated by Brighton and Hove City Council. And there is a mobile PCR test centre at Brighton’s Moulsecoomb campus until Thursday 23 December. To attend, please book a test slot.

Keeping you updated

We will continue to keep you up to date on measures at both partner universities.

View the Sussex information pages.

View the Brighton information pages.

Updates for students

December 2021

Plan B restrictions – an update for BSMS students

Dear students

On Wednesday 8 December the UK government announced new measures that will be introduced from Monday 13 December, to help reduce the spread of Covid-19. For BSMS students, these new measures mean:

It remains a legal requirement to wear face coverings in shops and on public transport, unless exempt. In addition, mandatory masks will be introduced in most public venues.
Face coverings, unless exempt, must be worn in crowded and enclosed spaces on campus – including in all teaching spaces at the University of Sussex, University of Brighton, in any hospitals or GP placements, and when entering and walking around the library at Sussex, Brighton or the Audrey Emerton Building. Please, follow the instructions indicated by signage. This signage is very visible across the campus and BSMS will be introducing more signage in its buildings shortly. One exemption to this is whilst eating and drinking in bars and cafes.
Vaccine passports will now be required for larger unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people.
Vaccination is critical in helping to minimise transmission against this new variant and BSMS strongly advises all students and staff to consider vaccinations and booster jabs.
Please, remember to get a Covid lateral flow test (LFD) before you travel home. You can get a free box of lateral flow device (LFD) test kits in one of the collection points on campus or order them online (see below).

These new measures will not affect your in-person teaching and learning experience which will continue until teaching ends in December – and unless the current UK Government guidance and rules change between now and the start of term – in-person teaching and learning will continue next term as well. We will keep you informed of any changes.

From Monday 13 December, school offices and welfare services at both the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton should remain open and face to face so far as possible.

Testing and isolation

All students can get twice-weekly Covid-19 tests using the home testing kits that can be ordered from the gov.uk website. Students can also collect home testing kits from several campus locations at Sussex and from Falmer Sports Centre and the library at Brighton.

Keeping you updated

We will continue to keep you up to date on measures at both partner universities.

View the Sussex information pages.

View the Brighton information pages.

Information for researchers

For the latest information on undergraduate, postgraduate (taught and research degrees) and staff research following the COVID-19 outbreak, please see our dedicated webpage.

View the information for researchers page >