Students have been urged to take Covid tests before returning home to prevent households from having to self-isolate over Christmas.
The Prime Minister called for the nation to start working from home, but most universities have stuck to government guidance to provide face-to-face teaching.
Roughly 30 universities ended their winter term last week while most others will finish this Friday.
Cases are rising rapidly at some schools with the discovery of the Omicron wave, prompting directions to students and staff to limit mixing. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) said, however, that Covid outbreaks at universities had not been as severe as last year.
90% of higher education students have had at least one dose of the vaccine whilst 78% have had two (Office for National Statistics). It is expected that everyone over the age of 18 will be offered a booster jab by the end of December.
Advice across the board is to keep regularly testing and get a booster at the earliest possibility.
Students are also asked to take tests before returning to accommodation to prevent further spreading of the virus in the new year. No staggered plans have been enforced, as were made last year, which may put the onus on students and accommodation providers to ensure a safe return to university.
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