Living safely with respiratory and other common infections, including COVID-19

At UCL, the wellbeing of our staff and students remains of utmost importance and we want to continue to avoid placing people at unnecessary risk of any type of illness.

It is therefore UCL’s expectation that staff should not attend work (and students should not attend teaching sessions) if they have symptoms of a respiratory infection or could potentially pass on any infection or illness to others. The exception is patient-facing healthcare staff (and students) with direct clinical care responsibilities who should follow the guidance provided by their healthcare provider regarding attendance at work.

UCL’s long-term health protection campaign called “Unwell? Stay home” to remind students and staff of their responsibility to limit the transmission of infectious diseases in our community. 

The best protection against COVID-19 is vaccination, including a booster dose for all.  The best protection against flu is to get a free flu vaccination.

Useful links to government guidance

• People with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19
• Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19
• Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace
• COVID-19: guidance on protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
• COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk
• Managing healthcare staff with symptoms of a respiratory infection or a positive COVID-19 test result