Students adding to soaring toll

MORE than 750 students at a university have tested positive for Covid-19 as it emerged infections are rising by five to nine per cent a day.

- Sarah O'Grady

Northumbria University said 770 students had tested positive, 78 of whom had symptoms of the virus.

They, flatmates and close contacts are self-isolating for 14 days.

Meanwhile, Government figures showed the virus reproduction number – R-value – across the country is 1.3 to 1.6, indicating an increasing rate of transmission.

Despite suggestions that the growth of the pandemic might be slowing, scientific advisers said it was “still highly likely” that the epidemic itself was growing exponentially.

Northumbria University, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, is among more than 50 institutions to have confirmed virus cases in recent weeks as thousands of students return to campus.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, said: “We warned last month that given the current restrictions in the region, the direction of the infection rate and the problems with Test and Trace, it was clearly far too soon for a mass return to campus.