Although the Government has recently changed its guidance to say that a visor on its own does not constitute a face covering, as a University, we recognise our obligations to be proactive to anticipate the needs of disabled people under the Equality Act 2010. As such, we will continue to issue and allow the use of visors on their own for service provision activities in combination with existing additional measures that we have in place on campus, such as social distancing, asymptomatic testing and transparent barriers as specified in local risk assessments. Examples of relevant service provision activities include teaching, customer service and direct communication with people who rely on lip reading or the interpretation of facial expressions. A polite reminder that not all disabilities are visible and some people may be exempt from wearing a face covering either due to their disability or to aid communication with a disabled person.

Following feedback from students, The Library have introduced optional laminated face covering exemption cards. They are simply the exemption cards provided by the Government at gov.uk and have been printed off and laminated for use.

Students can pick up a card from the Library Welcome Point or Helpdesk. No proof of exemption will be required. The cards are theirs to keep - please do not hand them back. If you place the card visibly on the desk, the top corners are the best, and staff patrolling Library areas will not approach you regarding wearing a face covering. This new process is completely optional, the Library does not enforce students to have to display a card. The Library are trialling this approach due to the high staff turnover and rotas at Library sites, therefore students may have been approached multiple times throughout their study period regarding face covering. This new approach gives an option for a student to signal they are exempt without having to interact staff repeatedly.

A quick video update from Jenny Wheeler Estates Accessibility Officer on her first trip back to campus, looking at the new hand sanitisers that have been installed around campus, including in the student residences.

Please read this important update on all passenger travel in all lifts across campus.

Following the temporary suspension of all passenger travel in lifts in March 2020, passenger travel in lifts across campus has been reinstated with a restriction on the number of people who can travel in a lift at once.