Update for staff about coronavirus guidance and testing on campus

As coronavirus restrictions are being lifted across England, UCL has updated our guidance on wearing face coverings and the symptom-free testing centre on campus has now closed. 

We are committed to making sure our campus is as safe as possible, but we also need your help to continue preventing the spread of infection and keep our community safe. 

Wearing face coverings on campus 

We have updated our face covering guidance, which previously required everyone to wear face coverings while indoors on campus. We expect students and staff to continue wearing face coverings in teaching settings and strongly advise you to continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces in other settings where you may come into contact with people you do not normally meet (unless you are exempt). 

You may also be required to wear a face covering in some areas of UCL which are managed by our partner hospitals. Please remember to follow local guidance. 

As the remaining coronavirus restrictions are being lifted across England, we recognise that it is an individual’s choice to wear a face covering or not, whether at UCL or in wider society. Please be considerate of those around you, especially if they are wearing a ‘Please give me space’ lanyard or badge. 

Read the full face coverings guidance on the HR website. 

Getting tested if you don’t have symptoms 

The asymptomatic COVID-19 testing centre in the Student Centre closed on Friday 18 February, and tests are no longer available for collection on campus. 

Rapid lateral flow testing remains a reliable and fast way of checking whether you have COVID-19, and helps to protect those who could get seriously ill if they catch the virus.  

UCL continues to encourage staff and students to get tested at least twice a week with a free Lateral Flow Test (LFT) before they come to campus, and before mixing with people in crowded indoor places. 

Tests can be sent to you home address from the gov.uk website, collected from your local pharmacy, or you may be eligible pick up tests from a community collection point. 

If you have any questions or concerns about home testing, please contact connecttoprotect@ucl.ac.uk  

Continuing to help keep each other safe 

No single safety measure is 100% effective and taking a ‘multi-layered’ approach is the best defence against COVID-19. The “Swiss Cheese” model explains how a combination of measures is the most effective way to keep the virus at bay. 

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We are continuing to encourage all staff and students to get vaccinated or boosted if they can, and the NHS vaccination centre at Bidborough House remains open.  

The UCL Connect to Protect service will also continue to help us monitor and respond to coronavirus cases at UCL. Report your status through UCL Connect to Protect to let us know: if you have symptoms of coronavirus, if you need to self-isolate, or when you receive the results of a coronavirus test. 

And please remember if you feel unwell, even if you don’t have COVID-19 symptoms, you must stay at home and not come to campus.  

Further information and support    

Find out more about what UCL is doing to keep everyone safe on campus on our coronavirus information hub.